E-SCOOTER ‘MISTAKE’ SEES COWES MAN HANDED 12-MONTH BAN

A Cowes man has been handed a 12-month ban and a £276 fine after being caught drink driving on an e-scooter – thought to be the first person to be convicted of drink driving on a Voi rental e-scooter on the Isle of Wight. Jacob Anderson, 25, of Arctic Road in Cowes, pleaded guilty to a single charge of drink driving when he appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court last Friday (23rd August). The bench heard from Crown Prosecutor Lauren Stone that Police had sighted a male riding an e-scooter on the pavement at just before midnight on 28th July this year. When stopped on Love Lane it became clear to officers that the rider was in drink. Anderson was arrested and taken to Newport Police Station where an evidential breathalyser reading of 46 was recorded. Defending, Jim Osborne said that Anderson simply ‘made a mistake’ and didn’t think he had drunk that much. He just wanted to get home so picked up a Voi e-scooter, Mr Osborne said. Voi took over from the previous rental operator Beryl earlier this year. Magistrates handed the 25-year-old a 12-month driving ban, fined him £276 and ordered him to pay £85 costs with a £110 surcharge.