A pensioner has been handed an interim driving disqualification after pleading guilty to failing to provide – but insists he was not drink driving.
75-year-old Colin Thomson, of Colwell Road in Freshwater, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court today (Tuesday) charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
Leah Dillion, prosecuting, explained to the court that at around 21:20 on 4th August this year the manager of The Sun Inn at Hulverstone alerted Police to a possible drink driver. They had sighted a male trying to get into a VW Van and, in their opinion, was so drunk they could barely get into the vehicle.
A short while later, Police received a further phone call to state that a male had been found with a head injury on The Broadway, Totland – some 6 miles away from the pub.
Officers responded and located a bloodied Thomson. It’s said that he failed to provide at the roadside and was then taken to St Mary’s Hospital for treatment. It’s at the hospital that he refused to provide a blood sample.
The Crown told the court that they believed it to be a deliberate act with a high level of impairment.
Henry Farley, defending, told the court that his client was not too drunk to drive on the night in question, but was in fact having difficulties getting into his van due to his knees being ruined. Mr Farley said that Thomson stopped his van in Totland, got out and fell on the kerb, resulting in a head injury. Thomson doesn’t recall refusing to provide.
Mr Farley explained that his client, a father-of-3, spent 48 hours in hospital for concussion and suffered headaches for weeks after the incident.
The bench heard that Thomson, with a clean record, had been driving for the past 49 years.
Magistrates decided to adjourn the matter for a pre-sentence report to be compiled with Thomson due back before the court on 2nd December. He has been handed an interim driving ban in the meantime.
What a pathetic excuse. If his knees are that bad he shouldn’t be driving at all. Would hardly be able to react in an emergency. Should have his license withdrawn.
Are you some kind of medical expert, keep your stupid opinions to yourself
You don’t need to be a medical expert, just an ounce of common sense. While you may think my opinions are “stupid”, I am entitled to them and to express them. There is still some element of free speech in this country. Presumably you would have it otherwise?
if he was in the right why not just comply, they were already taken bloods at hospital #guilty #mug
it was a pathetic excuse by an old man, who was clearly sodden with drink.
I know the saying is innocent until proven guilty but what planet are these people on, if you get pulled over you have two options, breathalyser or blood sample if you fail to provide one of them you should be banned, if you cant provide a basic reading to the police your not intoxicated then you shouldn’t be on the roads! Head injury and was struggling to get into a van…maybe you shouldn’t be attempted to potentially cause a accident if your not in fit state to drive…..!
Old age clearly equals different treatment….
We slate young drivers but old drivers are just at fault – failure to provide?! They have enough experience to do so unless guilty!! Wake up!
Sure that the Sun inn knew how much was consumed, CCTV of him drinking, maybe card payments evidence as well. Think his driving is coming to an end for sometime as high risk to others.
Well said Paul ,I totally agree with what you said
Probably not the first time drink driving just the first time getting caught more like.
What has his knees got to do with providing a specimen? If you can’t pass water they will give you loads of it, alternately there is the blood sample. What a load of bull this excuse is.
Odd then that his “ruined knees” were more than able to deliver him to the pub without any issues.
Wouldn’t he also be on pain killers for his damaged knees ,cocktail off tablets and a drink is surely not a good mix
They couldn’t prove it now!! The blokes not silly – failure to provide = guilty!!!
Yes, failing to provide is an absolute charge- there’s no defence. Complete F’wit
Get this irresponsible menace off our roads permanently.