"Very drunk" driver nearly burns out clutch - court

Police officers were first alerted to the smell of burning, then saw William Alfred Gerken hurtling through Newbury at breakneck speed, the court was told.
Jane Davies, prosecuting, said: “They noticed the strong smell of a burning vehicle clutch at the Robin Hood Roundabout and became aware of a yellow Hyundai speeding away then braking heavily at the next red light.
“It was using excessive speed and they caused it to stop just before the BP garage.
“Pc Alan White approached and noticed a strong burning smell. The driver’s eyes were glazed; he was unsteady on his feet and stank of alcohol. He was clearly very drunk.”
She said the 41-year-old, of The Close, Burghfield Common, became abusive and swore at the officers, saying: “You’re not taking my licence off me again.”
Mr Gerken began squaring up to the officers, banging his clenched fists together and telling them: “I’m the man,” magistrates were told.
Ms Davies added: “He had to be taken to a police cell by force, where he refused to co-operate with the breath test procedure.”
Mr Gerken admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis on November 29 this year.
He has previous convictions for offences including drink driving, dishonesty, being drunk and disorderly and failing to providce a specimen for analysis, the court heard.
Alexander Gorst, defending, said his client “clearly made a grave error of judgement” in getting behind the wheel and conceded his behaviour was “entirely unacceptable”.
However, he said Mr Gerken, a bricklayer, had not been before the courts for the previous eight years and had turned his life around.
He added: “He has made great strides in transforming himself and feels shame and remorse that he is back here today.”
After hearing a positive report from a probation officer, magistrates made Mr Gerken subject to a 12-month community order with 200 hours’ unpaid work requirement. In addition, he was ordered to pay £80 costs plus a statutory surcharge of £60.
Furthermore, he was banned from driving for three years.