A self-employed painter and decorator who was found to be sipping from a can of cider whilst parked in a layby in Chale has kept his licence – just.
Stephen Ward, 57, of Melbourne Street in Newport appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with being in charge of a motor vehicle whilst alcohol level above the limit.
Liz Miller, prosecuting, told the court that PCSOs had come across Ward parked on Blythe Shute, between Chale and Blackgang, on the afternoon of 12th August. Police had been searching the local area after receiving a tip-off that the 57-year-old may have been drink driving.
The officers witnessed Ward drinking a can of cider with the keys to his Citroen Berlingo still in the ignition. He was arrested and taken to Newport Police Station where he blew 79.
Defending, Barry Arnett explained that his client had started drinking more in 2011 following the break up of his 25-year marriage. On the day of the offence, Ward had argued with his second wife of 6 years about his drinking.
Mr Arnett said that Ward recognised and accepts he has an alcohol dependency and that he has self-referred to Inclusion, as well as attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He has also sought help for depression from his GP.
After hearing all of the evidence and Ward’s personal circumstances, Magistrates decided to issue 10 penalty points and a fine of £133. They also offered Stephen Ward to pay £85 costs with a £34 surcharge – and warned that he must ve extremely careful for the next 3 years otherwise he will lose his licence altogether.
Absolutely disgraceful! I hope the magistrates will be really proud of themselves when this drunk eventually manages to kill someone while out drink driving. They should be sued for endangering the public.
Seems very light! If that was a 20 year old lad he would of been banned! Shame on you judge!
Trouble is he wasn’t seen by police driving it and the engine wasn’t running. Would have been better off waiting for him to move the car then stop him.
Silly sod,why didn’t he decanter it into a lucozade bottle like normal people.
Sorry, but most people today have problems to deal with and using a break up of a marriage ten years previously as a reason is misleading because, you would hope, that getting married again six years ago was a positive thing and could have reversed the drinking and yes we all have days when things go wrong but not all of us go out and do something illegal and possibly dangerous.