Father and son duo Jack and Andrew Leggett have been sentenced after a drink-drive crash in Ryde ended with a police officer being assaulted.
Jack Leggett, 31, of Uplands Road in Cowes, and his father, Andrew Leggett, 54, of High Street in Wootton, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court earlier today (Friday).
Jack admitted a single count of drink driving, while Andrew admitted assaulting an emergency worker and resisting arrest.
All of the offences occurred following a road traffic collision on The Esplanade in Ryde on 30th May, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Jack was driving a Mitsubishi L200 pickup when it mounted the kerb, struck an exotic plant and rolled onto its side. He was treated for minor injuries at the scene before being arrested.
A breathalyser test at Newport Police Station revealed the 31-year-old was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.
At today’s court hearing, Magistrates heard that Andrew was in Ryde that evening when he learned his son had been involved in the collision. As officers detained Jack, Andrew attempted to reach him, charging at and swinging towards a police officer, narrowly missing the constable’s face.
As officers moved to arrest him, the 54-year-old resisted and shouted expletives at those detaining him.
Defending both men, Jim Osborne said Jack had been dealing with ‘personal issues’ on the night in question, while Andrew was ‘ashamed’ of his actions and had simply ‘seen red’ when he was unable to help his son.
After retiring to consider their decision, Magistrates disqualified Jack from driving for 25 months. He was also fined £923 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £369 victim surcharge.
Andrew was fined £576 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £230 victim surcharge.
