A Ryde man who admitted crashing his BMW into a cemetery wall whilst drunk has been banned from the roads for 14 months.
Gregg Wicks, 33, of Upton Road in Ryde, admitted drink driving when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates yesterday (Tuesday).
Prosecuting, Liz Miller told the court that on 3rd March, at just after 02:00, Wicks was driving along Mill Hill Road in Cowes in his BMW 3-Series when he collided with a stone wall on the outskirts of Northwood Cemetery.
In the immediate aftermath, Wicks was seen by locals – who had been awoken by the incident – leaving the vehicle and dragging a female from the passenger seat.
Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and paramedics from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service quickly arrived at the scene immediately speaking to Wicks, who admitted that he had been drinking but that he wasn’t the driver.
In interview with Police, Wicks later admitted that he was the driver.
The lowest alcohol reading returned during testing procedures was 46.
Wicks was handed a 2-year-suspended prison sentence, suspended for 2 years, by Gloucester Crown Court back in November 2023. What was described in court as a ‘meaty’ community order was imposed at the same time.
Defending, Barry Arnett told the court that Wicks accepts that the accident was his fault but that his lack of local road knowledge played a part.
The heating and plumbing engineer was keeping his appointments with probation and engaging with his current order.
Magistrates handed Gregg Wicks a 14-month driving ban and fined him £576. He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £230 surcharge fee.
Gloucester Crown Court will be notified that Wicks has offended whilst his suspended sentence is still active.
Who pays for the wall? Sure the insurance will be null and void. Hope they send him the bill.
Question: how does he run a business as a heating and plumbing engineer without driving? Answer: he will probably just keep driving and take a chance. Very low likelihood of him being caught on our police-free roads.
Thank god its Gloucester crown court dealing with the suspended sentence, and not the local magistrates.
Lack of road knowledge!!! I often run off the road while on holiday in Scotland due to road knowledge!!! What a muppet these people do come up with some rubbish, I went to Ventnor the other day and made it back even though I had a lack of knowledge on the roads as I USED THE SIGNS AND ROAD MARKING AND MY EYES to work out what way I need to point my car!!
Is that all he got .!!!!
Let’s hope this scums business goes belly up , any of us could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time
and been killed. Should be banned for life.
I’ve been in a car crash with a drunk driver! There so selfish and careless don’t think of the outcome the pain and suffering the families go through, these selfish couple should have a long look in the mirror and think how lucky they are selfish tw@ts
Lack of road knowledge played apart….
But who pays to rebuild the wall?
It is about time drink or drug drivers are banged up.
So who pays for the bloody wall then??..lack of local road knowledge….drunk brilliant ..
Bobthebuilder Ideal for you get a quote in quick send to pissed up Upton Road Ryde.
I blame the passenger for getting into a drunk driver car should off report it first
Maybe the passenger don’t want to get her lover boy in trouble
He didn’t ‘collide’ with the wall, he hit it !
Lack of local knowledge ! What a joke!
Try driving whilst unfit,excess speed etc etc.
Visit to HMP and a big bill to pay for the damage would be more appropriate.
I blame the passenger as she the landlady off the union pub and she goes with a drunk driver that’s good