Builder Michael Wilmot, 36, of Mill Street, West Malling, Kent was shopped by a member of the public, who saw him behind the wheel while obviously intoxicated.
At Croydon Magistrates’ Court the father-of-three pleaded guilty to driving in the Elephant and Castle residential road at 11.15pm on November 11 with excess alcohol in his breath.
Wilmot had 83 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is 35.
He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance.
Prosecutor Caroline Mungall told the court on Friday a witness reported Wilmot to the police for possibly drink-driving near Kennington Underground Station.
“The police arrived and witnessed the van turn right towards Elephant and Castle and the driver was hard on the accelerator and brakes.
“The defendant was stopped in Dante Road and he was unsteady on his feet and alcohol was smelled on him.
“He failed a roadside breath-test and it was discovered he was also driving without a policy of insurance.”
It was Wilmot’s second drink-drive conviction, having been disqualified in 2010 for eighteen months.
The court heard Wilmot say he was working late, was stressed and stopped to have a drink before intending to drive home.
He told the court he needs to be able to drive his van to continue with his building business as the family’s sole bread-winner and also has the responsibility of driving his three daughters to school.
Due to the loss of his licence Wilmot indicated he would have no option now but to sign-on for state benefits.
He claimed the insurance offence was simply because his policy reminder was lost in his email’s junk folder.
Wilmot was fined £692, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £69 victim surcharge.
He was disqualified from driving for twenty months.
No comments:
Post a Comment