A man found driving his Kia in a Ryde car park whilst believed to be drunk pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
34-year-old Martin Cooper of Barfield, Ryde, was seen by patrolling police officers to be driving erratically in the Superbowl car park on the night of 3rd September.
Liam Hunter, prosecuting, told the court that Cooper’s Kia Cee’d was seen to miss a speedbump and collide with a roadside kerb before officers pulled him over. Cooper was then seen to stumble out of the vehicle and sway whilst standing.
James Farley, defending, said that Cooper had left his home that evening following an argument with his wife and taken a duvet and cans of beer with him in the car with the plan to drink them alone and sleep in his vehicle.
Mr Farley told Magistrates that whilst parked in the car park, Martin Cooper became aware of a group of youths congregating and acting noisily prompting him to decide to drive to a ‘quiet corner’. It was at this point that he was noticed by officers.
The self-employed father – who has a previous drink-drive conviction – was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order. He was also banned from driving for 36 months and must pay £85 in costs alongside a £95 surcharge.
Wow, bit harsh innit ? !
No….innit….know wot I mean….innit…
No not really. Ask the thousands of motorhome owners who manage to behave themselves all year round.
Just proves the council don’t have enough options to help the immediately homeless, and the poor guy was sleeping rough in his car, he would of be done for drunk and in charge anyways if had car keys on him and asleep in car
Read the article he left home after an argument with wife!
What’s your point? So he was getting divorced the next day and? If he was kicked out he had nowhere to go, or are you suggesting he went back to his wife which then could of lead to a domestic dispute and the poor chap being arrested, the police will always take the side of women and ask him to leave
Harsh considering that the doctor from London who was caught drink driving on a public road with 2 children in the car also with a previous drink driving offence only got a 16 month ban
It’s a shame the police couldn’t have done something about the noisy group and asked them to move on. Don’t agree with drunk drivers AT ALL but in this case feel a bit sorry for the poor bloke. Sounds like he was just trying to get some sleep and couldn’t because of the noise.
“Noisy group” is a BS story to justify his drinking & driving, just like that pesky ‘badger’ that gets around the IW roads, jumping-out in front of crap drivers and causing them to roll their cars..
Not harsh, he failed to provide a specimen of breath. The JPs punished him for that. If he had provided a specimen, then he would have been done for being in charge of a motor vehicle, which is 10 points on your licence.
Yes my point exactly
Bit of a vague story. Some are sorry for the chap as he was merely moving his car. He was seen driving erratically tho which could indicate quite drunk BUT the story does not list an alcohol reading – presumably because he refused – which says a lot in itself. I don’t doubt he wanted to sleep in his car BUT do question what state he was in when he left home – possibly already over the limit and in turn, a danger on the roads?!!
Drink driving is drink driving, even if it’s ‘only around a car park’. Still in charge of a motor vehicle whilst over the limit. I’m sure he won’t make the same mistake again. Would have saved quite a bit of money, a lot of hours of unpaid work and his driving licence if he had walked to a local hotel and checked in for the night, rather than drive the short distance to the seafront. Just a thought!
‘I’m sure he won’t make the same mistake again’ He already has, he has a previous drink-drive conviction.