A Gurnard man who can’t remember crashing his Peugeot into railings in Cowes back in February has been banned from the roads for 22 months. Melvin Belcher, 69, of Cockleton Lane in Gurnard, admitted drink driving when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court this morning (Friday). Lauren Stone, prosecuting, told the court that on 24th February, at around 19:20, eyewitnesses saw a Peugeot 307 crash into the railings on the roundabout at the junction with Three Gates Road and Newport Road in Cowes – outside Aldi. Members of the public helped the driver from the car and into another vehicle. Whilst doing so, they noticed that Belcher was unsteady on his feet. He then made comment that he ‘must’ve been going quickly around the corner’ further raising suspicions that he may have been under the influence of alcohol. Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary were called to the scene and conducted a roadside breath test which returned a positive result of 90. Further tests conducted at Newport Police Station returned a lowest reading of 81 – more than double the legal limit. Belcher has 2 excess alcohol convictions on his record – 1 from 1977 and another from 1999. Defending, Oscar Vincent told the court that Belcher had been down at The Kingston Arms in Cowes and that he didn’t remember anything at all about the incident, or any of his interactions with the witnesses at the scene. Magistrates banned Belcher from the roads for 22 months and handed him a £172 fine. He was also ordered to pay £85 fine and a £69 surcharge fee.
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Melvin Belcher, 2 previous driving whilst intoxicated convictions dating back to 1977 hahahahahahaha no way this is real
69 years of age, should know better, what with previous
Convictions, a permanent Ban is the answer to stop such
muppets.
Bang him up, obviously has never learnt from previous
offences.
Finally someone who actually agrees with the elderly drivers being a massive problem shame nobody was killed might make them stop
I agree some elderly drivers are a problem but to wish someone dead is way too harsh!
Be quiet for a minute king turd and remember that not all elderly drivers are bad as this scumbag
Joke should be banned for life, car crushed, forced to pay for the emergency services that attended, forced to pay for the railings (that us tax payers would of paid for) and not a monthly pay plan if the idiot can’t pay within 30 days take his house!!!!!
i see the wall at cowes cemetery stll not rebuilt why was the twat that knoked it down not made to pay for it??
I would take to the drink if my name was Melvin Belcher.
Sure his name ain’t “BELL-END” instead of Belcher.
Obviously it’s drunk at 69 years old and has never learned its lesson.
Who here can actually say they have ever taken a driving refresher course and kept up with the constant changes in legislation and driving environment. Most will take a test at 17 and continue to introduce bad habits into their driving technique for the next 53 years. Getting old is compulsory but keeping up to date in an ever changing world isn’t. Refresher course are useful, inexpensive and encourage better discounts from insurers. With ever increasing congestion no doubt in time refresher courses become compulsory to over the 50’s, but no reason not to do it now voluntarily. To drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a public highway is a privilege not a right and down to us to prove we’re worth enough to retain it. Not self assessment