SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR 38-YEAR-OLD WHO WROTE OFF MAZDA IN WHITERAILS CRASH

A drink and drug driver from Cowes, who crashed his partner’s Mazda so hard the engine was ripped from the chassis, has been handed a suspended prison sentence. 38-year-old Lee Williams, of Rew Street in Cowes, appeared before Magistrates for sentencing last week after previously pleading guilty to drink driving, drug driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and aggravated vehicle taking. As previously reported by Island Echo, Police, fire and paramedic crews were called to Whiterails Road near Wootton on the afternoon of 29th April this year. At the scene, a grey Mazda 3 – which had been seen being driven at speed – had crashed into a bank, causing significant front-end damage to the motor. The force of the impact was so great that the front wheels of the Japanese hatchback were completely bent and the engine was ripped from its mounting, ending up some metres away from the car. Roadside drug and breath tests were conducted at the scene by officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary – both returning above-limit readings. Williams was subsequently arrested and taken into custody to provide evidential tests. At an earlier hearing, the court heard how Williams – who had been asked by his partner to go and get some shopping, despite not having a driving licence – had taken the Mazda from their home address. Due to having no licence, Williams was also driving the car without insurance. Defending, Barry Arnett said that his client had been having a few personal issues at the time and that he got into the car to ‘clear his head’. He added that Williams is working with Inclusion IOW as a functioning alcoholic and that this was the ‘jolt to the system’ he needed. Williams – who has 1 previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol – was very lucky to walk away from the smash with minor injuries, it was noted. At sentencing, Magistrates handed Williams an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to complete a 9-month alcohol treatment requirement and banned from driving for 48 months. He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £154 surcharge.