A Carisbrooke man who breached his suspended sentence order has narrowly avoided being sent to prison, with Magistrates admitting he came ‘really really close’ to spending time behind bars.
Samuel Dunkling, 33, of Nodgham Lane, pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to provide a specimen when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday (7th February).
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that on 30th July at around 20:20 Police received reports that a car had crashed into another on Park Road in Cowes. Dunkling, in his Dodge Nitro, had emerged from a road near the Isle of Wight Community Club and had crashed into the side of a vehicle on the main road. The 2 vehicle owners weren’t able to share insurance details.
Then on the afternoon of 24th January this year Dunkling was seen leaving The Eight Bells pub in Carisbrooke whilst suspected of drink driving. Police found him up in Gunville pulling out of the car park of the Central store on Gunville Road.
He was seen crossing the central reservation with officers also noting that both of the brake lights weren’t working.
Dunkling was stopped at the roadside and asked to conduct a breath test. Despite agreeing to take part in the first test, which read 78, at Newport Police Station the 33-year-old gave a reading of 84 before refusing to complete the evidential test for a 2nd time.
Back in September 2021, Dunkling was sentenced to 4 months in custody, suspended for 2 years, after he admitted possession with intent to supply.
Defending, Michael McGoldrick said that his client wasn’t used to the automatic car he was driving at the time of the July offences and that the collision was ‘low-speed’. In regards to the January offence, McGoldrick said that Dunkling had some personal matters on his mind at the time and that although the distance to his house was a short one he did feel okay to drive despite having consumed at least 2 pints at the pub.
As Dunkling was in breach of his suspended sentence, Magistrates took their time reaching a decision, eventually doing so after admitting to Dunkling that he came ‘really really close’ to spending time in custody.
Instead of sending him to prison for breaching his suspended sentence, a total of 12 more rehabilitation activity days were added to Dunkling’s existing community order. For careless driving, he was handed 5 points on his licence as well as being ordered to pay a fine of £90, a £114 victim surcharge and £150 costs.
For the failing to provide, Dunkling was banned from driving for 24 months and issued with a new 18-month community order with up to 20 rehabilitation activity days attached.
Must of given the judge an envelope and a gluestick
Well that suspended sentence was a really useful deterrent. Just what does he have to do to get sent down?
Will he go to prison after he kills someone?
That fine won’t even make a dent in the money he makes from ‘intent to supply’.
Absolute joke!
That’s why he has his freedom, he just a foot solider, they want bigger fish
Such a pitiful result… driving whilst under the influence, careless driving, crashing into other cars.. so why the small £90 fine and only 2 year ban. ?? Not a first offence was it ?
Do drivers even realise they are not insured if they are drug or drink driving ?? Or do they care…
Why are Courts never responsible when they get it wrong, every other government agency (Police, Probation, Social Work and Mental Health and government are). He has ruined so many lives and that of his own and yet Courts allow this to continue – probably driving again already!.
What is the purpose of a suspended sentence ! I was under the impression that if you re-offended during this period you were to go to prison ? Was drink driving not counted then ???
Well that just proves our justice system is a absolute joke. Get tough with these scum bags like other countries do.
‘careless driving’, ‘failing to provide a specimen’, ‘crashed into another vehicle’, ‘possession with intent to supply’, ‘drunk and disorderly in a public place’
And all within the last couple of years.
There’s been a lot of talk about youngsters causing problems e.g. in West Wight, but this guy, and many others like him it seems, is in his 30s.
A drug user/supplier, presumably unemployed, a habitual drink-driver with no insurance? Wouldn’t it be better for him and the rest of us if he were locked up?
But, apparently, you get 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances before the magistrates actually take action.
IMO….Probably selling his Pepsi to the people with funny hand shakes…….
…….along with the rest of the Shanklin brat pack.
Lol he such a massive tool
Just shows what respect the courts have for the public by not implementing the right sentence. Take away his licence firstly then put him away for the maximum time by law. Pathetic justice at its best.
Surely the pubs should share a portion of the blame. They must know people drive to the pub and know the legal limit. It also really P’s me off when I see people drinking on the ferries and then driving off!! It’s all about profit!
Batty boy where coming
How can any solicitor defend scum like this? They Obviously don’t have a conscience
Translation= You can pretty much do what you like and you won’t go to prison. Pretty much a ridiculous situation, but that’s the way it is.