Stockbroker's Teenage Son Caught Drink-Driving In Early Hours

The teenage son of a wealthy stockbroker was caught drink-driving in the early hours of the morning after leaving his family's multi-million pound home in his new BMW to collect a stranded group of girls.

Henry Hoare, 18, a finance student at Bristol University, lives at the Grade II-listed Hollycombe House, Liphook, Hampshire, but was at his family's Belgravia property when he received the early hours call.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to driving the black Series 1 vehicle, with excess alcohol in his breath, in Eaton Square on December 15, last year.

He was supported in court by his father, Tim Hoare, 63, who founded the hugely successful T Hoare & Co in 1993, in partnership with Canada's Canaccord.

The court heard Henry was nearly double the drink-drive limit when stopped at 2.20am and he was fined £400, with £80 costs, ordered to pay a £40 victim surcharge and disqualified for a year.

Prosecutor Miss Amanda McCabe said the vehicle caught police's attention because they believed it was travelling at 45mph in a 30mph zone.

"The defendant was pulled over by the police with four passengers in his car and slipped as he got out of the driver's-side door and was unsteady on his feet and said he had four pints that evening."

After failing a road-side breath test Henry was arrested and later blew an alcohol reading of 68 microgrammes - the legal limit is 35.

His lawyer Mr. Robin Falvey told the court: "He is of good character, he has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and he does not ask me to make any excuses.

"He never intended to drive, he was staying at the family home in Gerald Road, off Eaton Square when he was telephoned by some female friends asking for a lift.

"At that time of night he should have told them to get a taxi.

"He receives an allowance and it would be disingenuous for me to say his family will not pay his financial penalty.

"It may be a little less serious than someone who has the intention to drive.

"I have spoken to his father, who sits at the back of the court, and he says that since obtaining his licence his son has been very responsible in relation to driving and drink-driving."

District Judge Mrs Davinder Lachaar disagreed, announcing: "He intended to drive and he did drive. These terms are used too liberally."

She told Henry: "Your female friends should have gone home on their own volition."