58-year-old Trevor Pearce, who was drunkenly donuting around the Hare and Hounds car park before crashing, was 4x the legal limit at the time of the offence.
Pearce, 58, care of The Duver in St Helens, pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier today (Tuesday).
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that on the afternoon of 25th February, a member of staff at the Hare and Hounds Pub was alerted to someone doing what was described as ‘burnouts’ and ‘donuts’ in the car park.
The vehicle – a Toyota MR2 – then crashed into the hedge at the entrance to the popular pub and sustained front-end damage, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Police arrived at the scene at 16:20 and spoke to the driver, Pearce, noticing that he smelt strongly of intoxicating liquor. A Roads Policing Officer (RPU) also noticed a bottle of vodka in the front of the car.
A roadside breath test was conducted which returned a positive reading. At Newport Police Station 2 more evidential samples were taken, the lowest of which read a massive 142 – more than 4x the legal limit.
Defending, Barry Arnett said that Pearce was a man of previous good character and that his car was written off as a result of his drunken actions – although it was seen being driven away from the crash the following day.
Because of the high reading, there is a possibility that Pearce may receive a custodial sentence which starts at a minimum of 12 weeks, however, Magistrates have ordered an ‘all options’ report be compiled by Probation before he is sentenced.
The case has been adjourned until 14th April with Pearce being released on unconditional bail. He has been handed an interim driving ban in the meantime.
The 58-year-old also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis.
Unfortunately people that live out that way.Ie bembridge.They have lots of money and know the ankle shakers. It’s no loss to him..
Calm down, its just drink driving. Its nothing extreme like the devils lettuce.
He shouldn’t me punishment for a mistake, this us punishment enough for him. He’s a good guy really.
Are you having a laugh?
He’s doing donuts during the day in the car park of a family pub?! Oh and massively over the limit. I don’t care where he’s from, the bloke is an absolute tool. Serves him right that he wrecked his car. He wrecked the hedge thats been so beautifully looked after for years.
Thank goodness no one got knocked over.
Doesn’t act like a good guy and actions speak louder than words.
What????? Drink drugs come on. There’s kids and adults there. It’s a public house. Disgrace.
In otherwords dont be a naughty boy & dont do it again,he should be banged up & made to press the start button when his car is crushed !!!!
About time he grew up a bit and acted like a man
I think he needs to move here with me. He’d like it here.
If (big “IF”) he was sober when he arrived at the car park of the pub, then all this took place on private land, so has he actually broken any law? That is what I would like to know (if anyone has the knowledge to give a definitive answer).
Is it because he didn’t have permission to be a total ***** from the landowner? – but even then I would have thought this would be a civil matter.
I’m no expert but,…
“It is an offence to drive in excess of alcohol on a road or public place”
I think you’ll find that,even though on private land, a pub car park would be classed as a ‘public place’ (because it has unrestricted public access, and is there for the purpose of use by the public (when visiting the pub)
… so still guilty
The Road Traffic Act )RTA) makes it clear that drivers who drive into any place to which the general public have access are subject to sections of the RTA.
Thus:-
# If you drive onto my driveway and then do doughnuts around my azaleas creating havoc and I call the police – you cannot be held responsible under the RTA. I can sur you through the civil courts though.
#If you drive onto Asda’s car park and start doughnuting and the olive are called you are subject to the terms and conditions of the RTA because the general public have access to the Asda car park.
The Hare and Hounds pub car park is accessible to the general public and therefore the RTA applies.
Thanks.
Also thanks to Wightlink and the others
The definition is “to where the public has access”. A pub car is open to the public, therefore the Road Traffic Act apply including Drink Drive offences
It isn’t ‘private land’ as defined in the Road Traffic Act. Any land, if it is accessable by the general public, i.e. a pub car park/supermarket car park is NOT private and therefore car drivers are subject to the laws of the RTA.
sys he was breathalysed at the roadside…
The question is, IS the area open to the public on payment or otherwise, maters not who the owner is. So YES he has
It’s a public place. Whether it is privately owned in that regard is immaterial.
It is classed as being a public space as the public have access to it during opening hours. It’s a well known, well established principle in law. Had he ran over someone or damaged a vehicle, it would be sheer nonsense to suggest he was somehow immune on a technicality.
He wouldn’t be in court if he hadn’t committed an offence you wally!
Anywhere the public has legal access to is considered a public place.
Defence almost got him off…. how stupid…
Lucky he never injured anyone. He sounds an utter idiot, drink and drugs don’t mix when in charge of a vehicle as the vehicle then becomes a lethal weapon. Shame there isn’t a photo so that other public houses can gauge his drinking or refuse to serve would be a better alternative.
Branding on the forehead would make it easier to enforce bans. Just a simple electric branding iron application with the words “do not serve alcohol (or resuscitate)”.
I saw a car like this overtake me on that day.l am sure it was speeding as I was doing 80 and seemed like I was in reverse.Bloody speeder slow down you muppet before you injure somebody.