RIDING DAUGHTER’S E-SCOOTER WHILST DRUNK LANDS COWES MAN WITH DRIVING BAN

A man who fell off his daughter’s e-scooter whilst drunk, having travelled the wrong way up Newport High Street, has been handed a 12-month driving ban – but says he has no intention of driving again. 37-year-old Liam Saltzer, of Bellevue Road in Cowes, stood before Magistrates at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Friday (23rd August) charged with drink driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and no insurance – 3 charges he pleaded guilty to at the earliest opportunity. The Crown Prosecution Service told the bench that Saltzer had been seen weaving in and out of traffic on the High Street, Newport on 14th June this year. He then fell off the vehicle outside the Castle Inn pub, where he was tended to by an off-duty police officer. That officer recognised Saltzer and called for assistance from on-duty colleagues, who arrested the 37-year-old for drink driving after he failed a roadside breath test. He provided an evidential reading of 52 at the station. It’s no surprise that he was recognised by Police – Liam Saltzer has 15 previous convictions for 19 offences including for drink driving in 2009 and 2011, with the latest appearance in court being just last month where he received a suspended sentence at the Crown Court for violence. Defending, Jim Osborne said that his client was deeply remorseful and had been fully cooperative with the Police. Mr Osborne explained that the e-scooter had now been crushed, to the detriment of Saltzer’s daughter. Mr Osborne detailed Saltzer’s monthly benefit income of £1,200 a month and the fact that Saltzer has no intention of driving again as the DVLA have already taken his licence away due to epilepsy. Magistrates handed Liam Saltzer a 12-month driving ban, fined him £120 and ordered him to pay £85 costs with a £48 surcharge.