Driver banned after drinking...in his car

Public alerted police officers

CONCERNED passers by reported a motorist sitting in his car drinking can after can of strong lager.

And sure enough, when police later stopped the 39-year-old Aldermaston man, he was nearly twice the legal alcohol limit for driving.

In the dock at West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, November 12, was Krzysztof Kowalski, of Mallard Way.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said: “He had been seen around 6pm, sitting in his car at The Wharf, drinking up to five cans of lager before driving off.

“Police stopped him in Mallard Way and he failed a roadside breath test.”

Tests showed 67mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in Mr Kowalski’s system. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Mr Kowalksi admitted driving a BMW after drinking more than the legal limit on October 28.

He has no previous convictions and Laura Phillips, defending, said: “His wife doesn’t like him drinking in the house.”

She said her client, a father of one, had bought the cans of Stella lager after work and added: “He is a professional driver, delivering skips and his life will be absolutely destroyed – the family will have no income.

“It will have a profound effect on his life and it was a moment of madness that was completely out of character.”

Magistrates banned him from driving for 17 months.

In addition they fined Mr Kowalksi £200 and ordered him to pay a £150 criminal courts charge plus £20 victim surcharge and £30 costs.