A man who crashed his Vauxhall car into the middle of St George’s Roundabout in Newport was found to have been on the beers at the time of the crash.
Ashley Coulson, 34, of Melville Street in Ryde pleaded guilty to driving whilst under the influence of alcohol when he appeared in court on Tuesday.
Tom Corke, prosecuting, told the court that at around 03:00 on 16th September 2022, Police received a report from a member of the public after they noticed a car – a Vauxhall Astra – in the middle of the roundabout on St George’s Way. The headlights were still on and the driver’s door was open.
The 34-year-old was travelling along the A3020 – from Coppins Bridge – towards St George’s Way when the crash occurred.
Police managed to locate Coulson nearby walking in the middle of the road. He was seen to be staggering, dazed and his speech slurred. Officers also noticed that there was alcohol in the car.
Coulson was initially taken to St Mary’s Hospital with officers concerned for his welfare after the crash. It was here that a blood sample was taken which returned a reading of 148 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
Coulson has numerous previous alcohol-related convictions including some in 2015, 2017 and 2022.
Defending, Oscar Vincent said that his client had made full and frank admissions in Police interview. He also added that Coulson had been drinking at the Hogs Head in Newport and had consumed around 4 pints of beer. He had originally stated he was going to get a taxi home but that he can’t remember any of the events of that day after he left the Newport watering hole.
Magistrates handed Coulson – who suffers from severe OCD and clinical depression – was handed an 18-month driving ban. He was also ordered to pay a £200 fine, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge fee.
if you’re mentally unwell you shouldn’t be drinking in any event as it will only make your condition worse.
In any event he was obviously not that depressed or anxiety riddled to visit a pub.
Issue appears to be alcohol related.
Zero sympathy for a tosser who evidently has not learnt his lesson – needs to stop drinking – period.
Well done police for catching him and putting him in front of the beak.
if you have mental health you can drink. Just don’t make silly decisions like driving..
Agreed but if you have mental ill-health you shouldn’t.
Voice of reason
I agree mental illness and drink often do not go well hand in hand.
For you to assume the offender was not riddled with either of the conditions stated is a massive leap with no information to back it up.
Of course the issue was alcohol related and speed related .
Said person has not had a drop of drink since the incident and you have no idea the effects knowing the outcome could of put civis in danger. past convictions were not driving offenses .
Seems I’ve been the voice of reason ironically.
As for the tosser part I assume you’ll send me an email to let me know when and where you’d like to discuss this matter further politely of course
[email protected]
Got severe OCD but couldn’t even park his car straight.
18 month ban is a joke, so is the headline
Sometimes I have to drive because I am too pi%%ed to walk.quite often don’t remember getting home.At least I don’t fall or trip over. Don’t want to tear or rip my new jacket.
2/10 Grammar, Detention.
Stop being a Richard Apex
Apparently he came down from Burley.
Hope the police reported him to DVLA, they’ll cancel his licence indefinitely.
All drunk and drugie drivers on the island. suprised you haven’t killed evryone
What a bunch of vicious tossers, I surgest maybe googling and doing some good reasrch, not one of you clearly understand mental health. You don’t know him, yes he shouldn’t be driving drunk period. Obviously you lot haven’t made ke a mistake EVER. Mental health isn’t a throw away joke and to accept he has the condition’s then persecute is just wrong.
System error… Your a embarrassment the jokes on you looking like a bully and imatrure, change the brand of ciggeretts and probably get a job. And to set the gossip clear the man’s not from Burly, don’t forget the proper English grammer. Did you go to school??
#HIPPERCRITES
Load of garbage, driink and drive, face the consequences.