An Oxford drink-driver, arrested next to the Bank of England after enjoying beer and brandies with an old friend, was fined and banned from the roads for a year on Wednesday.
Tiler Arthur Silva, 36, of Kersington Crescent, pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to failing to provide a breath specimen on July 9.
Prosecutor Miss Alexa Morgan told the court it was just after midnight when police stopped Silva driving his van in Threadneedle Street.
Officers noticed a smell of alcohol on his breath and he failed the roadside test, but despite three attempts at the police station he was unable to give any reading on the official intoximeter.
“Mr. Silva traveled to London for work. He is the owner of his own tiling business,” said Miss Nadia Khan, defending.
“He went for dinner with his assistant and then went for a drink with a friend he had not seen for twenty years.
“The friend encouraged him to stay, promising to put Mr. Silva up for the night so he went to the pub and carried on drinking,” added Miss Khan.
“He had two pints with the earlier meal and two pints and two brandies in the pub, but the friend did not follow-through with accommodation.
“He found himself stranded in London and made the foolish decision to drive because he felt he had no choice, but to drive.”
The JP’s fined Silva £300, with £115 costs and disqualified him from driving for twelve months.
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