Third conviction for drink-drive crash driver
Drink-drive awareness course 'hasn't had much affect' - magistrates
A DRIVER who had drunk nearly three times the legal limit careered out of control and crashed at the Robin Hood roundabout in Newbury.
James Anthony Rose struck a metal barrier with such force his grey Volkswagen Vento spun 180 degrees and came to rest facing oncoming traffic.
Newbury magistrates heard on Thursday, September 10, that witnesses had earlier reported the 33-year-old’s driving to police.
Sarah McKay, prosecuting, said an ambulance and a fire engine were already on the scene by the time officers arrived.
It was the third drink-driving conviction for Mr Rose, who works at Tyre Barn in Bone Lane, Newbury, and is currently of no fixed address.
Ms McKay told magistrates: “Around 10pm police received information from members of the public about the manner in which the vehicle was being driven.
“Independent witnesses then observed a high-speed, single vehicle accident at the roundabout.
“They said the car had started to swerve before impacting a metal barrier, and then the pavement, with such force that it spun round and came to stop facing oncoming traffic.”
Tests subsequently showed 98mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
The legal limit is 35mcg.
Mr Rose admitted driving after drinking more than the legal limit on August 23.
Nadine Colyer, defending, conceded: “You will be concerned that this is his third drink-driving conviction.”
However, she added that when the father of two left the family home during an argument with his partner, he was following advice gleaned from a police course aimed at preventing domestic violence.
Mr Rose had attended the course voluntarily, despite not having any convictions for domestic violence, in which he had been advised to remove himself from the scene of an argument.
Ms Colyer said: “He was driving to his mother’s address – fortunately no-one was hurt.”
The court heard that Mr Rose had already attended a drink-drive prevention course following one of his earlier convictions for the offence.
Probation officer Catriona Reeves told magistrates: “He did the domestic violence programme out of choice and was following advice to leave the situation.
“He has received a lot of abuse on social media about the collision.”
Mr Rose was banned from driving for 44 months.
He was also made subject to an 18-month community order with 200 hours’ unpaid work requirement and 30 days activity requirement.
Finally, he was ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge with £85 costs plus a £60 victim surcharge.
Presiding magistrates Robert Lynch told Mr Rose: “We’re not offering you the chance to reduce the ban with the drink-drive awareness course because you’ve already done it – and it hasn’t had much affect, has it?”