WINE FOR BREAKFAST LEADS TO DRINK DRIVING CONVICTION FOR CIVIL SERVANT

A civil servant who downed a bottle of wine for breakfast, before proceeding to drive his mum’s car to the shops whilst almost 3 times the drink-drive limit, has been banned from driving for 25 months. 48-year-old Richard Palin, of Wintergreen Gardens in Newport but formerly of London, appeared before Magistrates yesterday (Tuesday) charged with 1 count of drink driving. The bench heard from the Crown Prosecution Service that it was a member of the public that alerted Police to Palin’s actions on 3rd August this year – less than 3 weeks ago. At 08:50 in the morning, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary received a 999 call reporting that a person who appeared to be drunk had got into a vehicle and driven off in the town of Shanklin. The member of the public followed the car, reporting the driver to be serving all over the road before stopping in the High Street. Liz Miller, prosecuting, told the court that when Police arrived on scene Palin had already left his vehicle but, in the time officers were searching for him, had returned and driven off once again. Officers soon stopped the vehicle and carried out a roadside breath test, which Palin failed. He appeared confused and smelt strongly of alcohol. He went on to provide an evidential reading of 103 at the Police station – almost 3 times the legal limit of 35. Palin made admissions to Police that he had drunk a bottle of wine that morning. Defending, Lucy Linington explained that it was a ‘sad case’ of a civil servant of the past 25 years. She explained that her client recognises that alcohol is an issue and has been for many years. Ms Linington told the bench that Palin faced an ‘ongoing battle’ but was engaging with Inclusion and attending Alcoholics Anonymous 3 times a week. In explaining Palin’s actions, his defence solicitor explained that he had been struggling with a toothache and self-medicated with alcohol. He had consumed the bottle of wine whilst travelling on the bus to Shanklin to see his parents, where he then made the ‘foolish’ decision to drive to the shops to pick up the daily newspaper. Magistrates imposed a 25-month driving ban and fined Richard Palin £960, with a £384 surcharge and £85 costs.