A Seaview man who crashed his employer’s mini digger into a ditch after consuming a bottle-and-a-half of wine has been banned from driving for 29 months.
Dean Brett, 45, of Priory Drive, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with drink driving on 22nd November this year.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, explained to the bench that at 00:15 a member of the public alerted Police to the discovery of a male slumped behind the controls of a mini digger on Priory Road. Officers attended the scene and found the tracked vehicle in a ditch with the engine running. They had to remove Brett by force, arresting him for failing to provide.
Mrs Smout went on to say that Brett later co-operated with officers at the Police station and gave a breathalyser reading of 126 – 3-and-a-half times the drink drive limit.
The court heard that Brett, a full-time groundworker, had borrowed a JCB compact excavator from his employer, Reynolds and Read. Depressed over the breakdown of his relationship and his children going home to their mother, he decided to go to a nearby field he owned to get some space. Whilst there is consumed a bottle and a half of wine before starting up the digger.
Thinking the road was private, Dean Brett moved the digger down the lane ready for the next morning but misjudged his position and rolled the digger into a ditch at the side of the carriageway.
Barry Arnett, defending, said that his client was remorseful for his actions. Mr Arnett also told the court that his client had been on antidepressants for some time.
Magistrates handed Brett a 29-month driving disqualification and made him subject to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs with a £95 surcharge.
How sad that you should publish this man’s details and push out the misery of it online.
Two men were taken ill,with one dying at nearby Shanklin Station. I would like to know, and hopefully be reassured by, information on this but cannot find anything.
This man was drunk and in charge of a machine that can do a lot of damage to life and property. He broke the law that’s why he is on the Isle of Wight echo. To shame he’s actions. I for one don’t feel sorry for him.
walk a mile in a mans shoes before you judge him .
Taken ill, or taking drugs and becoming ill from such? BIG difference.
relative of yours bowers?