A Brighstone man who was found hanging upside down in his car after it came to rest on its roof was found to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
William Gardener, 63, of Ashley Way in Brighstone, pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared before Magistrates on Tuesday (25th April).A
As previously reported by Island Echo, at 20:40 on 22nd February, emergency services were called to Galley Lane in Brighstone – just moments from his house – after they received reports that a vehicle had rolled onto its roof and was left wedged between a hedge and the road.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that Gardener was found hanging upside down in his vehicle – a Kia Soul – and was suffering back and and leg pain. With the car badly damaged, firefighters had to extract Gardener from the vehicle.
The court heard how the 63-year-old admitted to witnesses of the crash that he had consumed some wine.
Once he had been freed from the car a roadside breath test was conducted. This returned a reading of 76.
Gardener was taken to St Mary’s to receive medical assistance for the injuries he sustained, it was here that a blood test was conducted which returned a reading of 124, above the legal limit in blood of 80.
Defending, Michael McGoldrick said that Gardener – a man of previous good character – was mortified and embarrassed after the events of that night and that alcohol had become an increasingly big issue in his life following some struggles in his personal life.
Magistrates handed Gardener a 14-month driving ban. He was also ordered to pay a fine of £120, costs of £85 and a surcharge fee of £48.
You would have thought that a 63 year old would know better.
When will people learn – Do not drink and drive.
This wake council has stepped too far. They don’t have the authority to take away licenses from OAPs! This is a death sentence to anyone how lives in Brighstone! Cruel and unusual punishment!
What a pathetic attitude you have, do you truly believe in your little world that its only the elderly that have accidents.
You need a reality check real soon.
The idiot drunk driver hopefully has learnt his lesson after probably years drink driving and this being the first time caught
Better that it’s a death sentence for him (which in reality it isnt), but better that some innocent person that gets killed by one ton of metal being driven by a selfish individual.
He cost all that money getting emergency services out and all he gets is a 14 month ban? I bet he’s been doing it for years too. Brighstone is awash with nuisance drivers, most of them in the over 60 category. This local menace should have a much longer ban.
Hello officer. No I haven’t been drinking, I’m Batman
Who actually Police’s driving bans ?
I am fed up reading about re-offenders.
Expensive night out, hope he has learnt from the errors of his ways and was lucky he didn’t kill anything or himself.
Not expensive enough, weak punishment
it go’s on a lot over this side of the island. You don’t get any cops driving round. just stand outside any pub they all get in there cars and drive