A disqualified driver has been handed a suspended prison sentence and banned from the roads once again – this time for over 4 years – after crashing his boss’s van into a car whilst almost 4x the drink-drive limit.
Kelvin Parker, 30, previously of Footways in Wootton and now of Sandown Road in Bembridge, jumped into the driver’s seat of a Mercedes Sprinter van and drove over 5 miles from Bembridge to Lake before crashing into a Kia Picanto, without any memory of the incident, the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court heard today (Friday).
Liz Miller, prosecuting, explained that at 21:30 on 22nd January this year, Police were called by 2 taxi drivers who spotted the Sprinter van being driven in an erratic manner in Sandown. The second informant followed the vehicle to Medeway in Lake, where he witnessed Parker nearly lose control of the large vehicle on a bend.
The court heard that Parker then proceeded to reverse into a Kia Picanto, pushing it onto the pavement, before moving the van forwards and backwards several times.
Just a few minutes after the collision, Police received a call from Parker’s ex-partner stating that he had turned up at her address and entered the property uninvited.
By the time the Police had arrived at the scene, Parker had got in and out of his van before walking away from the area. However, he was soon located and breathalysed.
Magistrates heard from the Crown Prosecution Service that Kelvin Parker was previously given an 18-month driving ban in March of last year for drink driving, as well as a 6-month conditional discharge in December 2021 for separate offences.
A pre-sentence report carried out by the Probation Service detailed that Parker, who has had an alcohol problem for around 3 years, had been drinking cans and spirits for a 24-hour period prior to his arrest and had no memory from the time he left East Cowes to waking up in Police custody.
The bench heard that Parker’s boss is supportive of his employee, despite being unhappy that his van was used during the offence. He continues to employ Parker and has housed him in one of his properties in Bembridge.
After lengthy deliberation, Magistrates handed down a 20-week prison sentence – suspended for 18 months – and banned Kelvin Parker from the roads for 52 months. He was also made subject to an 18-month community order with a 9-month alcohol treatment requirement and 20 rehabilitation days attached. Parker was also ordered to pay £85 costs with a £128 surcharge.
Should have been jailed ,& given a lifetime driving ban, it’s about time the courts clamped down on idiots like this
The moment a banned motorist breaks the rules whilst being banned
PRISON is the only answer
And to Drink and Drive
PRISON IS A MUST – NO BUTS
DRINK DRIVING IS WRONG
This person will never learn.
HE KNOWS IT’S ALL A JOKE
Here you are Mr Seely & ms Jones you only have to see the pathetic sentences passed down by iow judges to see what’s wrong with iow crime …..
better off if he went down then he wouldn’t be able to get drunk, every week our magistrates let these people off with lenient sentences.
SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCE. WTF! What the hell is wrong with these judges? Does this idiot have to kill someone before they do prison time?
This decision should be questioned for sure. The judge is not ‘fit for purpose’. Disgraceful.
Unfortunately they ( Magistrates and Judges) have their hands tied by sentencing guidelines to which they have to refer and abide.. What needs to change is the sentencing guidelines, A good start would be where a D/D has an accident. It should be the case that the insurance company ( assuming they are insured) are compelled to refuse to pay out for the damage to the D/D ‘s car. Of course, they ( ins co) will have to pay out for any and all 3rd party damage.
It’s about time the ‘out of date’ antiquated laws in this country are changed.
Crime is constantly increasing, the severity and frequency of crime is increasing but the Magistrates and Judges hands are tied due to out of date laws!?!?
Priti Patel at number 10 Downing Street needs to get her finger out and do some work instead of just talking tough, let’s see some changes to the justice system.
I sometimes wonder if the guilty parties know persons in the right places,
hence getting let off.
We need a dedicated Police traffic unit. Also judges who will actually issue a punishment, rather than an apology.
Is it time we brought back a death sentence HANGING THE STOCKS LEATHAL INJECTION ELECTRIC CHAIR IT MUST COME BACK, THEY HAVE NO RIGHTS ANYMORE.
Lol… easy old girl . Tad bit harsh I’d say
Why was he not also charged with taking the van without the owners consent? The CPS are a waste of space, always taking the easy option rather than risk having to work to obtain a conviction. The police are let down by the CPS as well as the Justice System, but every time it is the police who get blamed by the public.
Drink drivers should be jailed for two years and be disqualified for life. This way the morons in the court have only one choice.
That would be great for the environment, and would cut accidents in half at a stroke of a pen.
He has done it all before and then does it again, seems they never learn and the judges just don’t seem to hand down a decent sentence.
The Roads Policing Unit needs to be back big time.
The government should build a dedicated prison for drink drivers. If everyone knew that they get caught they will get four weeks in a prison where the only thing on TV is education programs on bad driving and how to go sober you might see a fall in drunk and drugged drivers.
Sounds good in theory, very good idea.
But the prison would need to be massive, not saying it can’t be done, but it would be the size of a small city.
Probably better off making them where a sobriety ankle tag for a year or so, then if it bleeps, off you go to hmp.
And it would inervabratly help people who are genuinely trying to get off the sauce. So win,win, punishment and help at the same time.