EAST COWES OAP HANDED 26-MONTH BAN AFTER DRIVING HOME DRUNK

An elderly East Cowes man has been handed a 26-month driving ban after pleading guilty to drink driving. Paul Sillence, 75, of Captains Parade in East Cowes, pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court last week (Friday 10th November). Lauren Stone, prosecuting, told the court that in the early evening of 26th October, witnesses saw a Nissan Note being driven on Fairlee Road, noticing that it was being driven slowly upon the approach to green lights and not braking as it came to roundabouts. Other road users were forced to flash their lights as they witnessed the poor standard of driving. Officers from Hampshire & Constabulary were given the details of the vehicle and tracked it to Sillence’s home address in East Cowes. It was here that he admitted to officers that he had been drinking and that he was driving his Nissan back from St Mary’s Hospital. A breath test was conducted which returned a reading of 103 – above the legal limit of 35. Defending, Michael McGoldrick told the court that Sillence has underlying alcohol issues and that he has since given up his driving licence after this incident occurred. Sillence was handed a 26-month driving ban and ordered to pay a fine of £333, costs of £85 and a £133 surcharge fee.