A 22-year-old caravan cleaner from Ryde pleaded guilty to 2 driving offences when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday – with 1 of the offences taking place whilst he was on bail for the other.
Charlie Startin, an employee of Lower Hyde Holiday Park in Shanklin and a resident of East Hill Road, Ryde, was first arrested in Ryde on 12th July when he failed to provide a specimen of breath after being pulled over by the Police.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that at around 23:00 on the date in question, officers noticed a Ford car parked on zigzags with the driver seemingly avoiding making any sort of eye contact with officers. The Ford then left the area and pulled over at a Union Street bus stop and it was at this point that officers noticed that the defendant’s speech was slurred and came to the conclusion that he was under the influence.
Startin was requested to provide a specimen of breath as part of a roadside breath test but refused – he then refused once more at the police station. He was subsequently bailed.
Just over 3 weeks later and whilst still on bail for the first offence, officers patrolling an area of Ryde noticed Starting driving around a roundabout several times before pulling up at an address in East Hill Road. After introducing themselves as the Police, Startin ran away from the officers into nearby woodland. A short search located him and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
An evidential breathalyser test taken at the Police Station showed him to be over the drink-drive limit.
The court heard that the defendant, who has previous convictions for failing to stop and driving without due care and attention, was – in the words of his defence – ‘just over the limit’.
Startin was handed a 12-month community order and must undertake 120 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he has been disqualified from driving for 36 months and ordered to pay £150 in costs and a £95 surcharge.
he will be driving illegally soon enough – sure bet.
Sack the idiot he will never learn not good advertising for the cleaning company either
Yer what a high profile job he has lol
Problem with that is he will then join the ranks of the unemployed and probably be around littering up the streets. And at least he is working I suppose and not just scrounging benefits so have to give him credit for that.
Should stop him from driving though. Let him use public transport to get to where he works, like many others have to.