Afternoon drinks lead to driver’s year-long ban

Last updated 16:02, Wednesday, 03 September 2008

A MOTORIST crashed his car after drinking pints of cider, a court has heard.

Andrew Casson, 19, of Knock Moss, Bransty, flagged down a police car after he crashed his Vauxhall Astra into a number of parked vehicles at Springfield Road, Hillcrest, on August 15. When officers stopped, they smelled alcohol on Casson’s breath.

After failing a roadside breath test, Casson was arrested but failed to provide the necessary sample while in custody.

Appearing before Whitehaven magistrates last week, the defendant admitted driving without due care and attention and failing to provide a breath specimen for analysis.

He was banned from driving for 12 months, fined a total of £270 and was ordered to pay £60 costs a £15 victims’ surcharge. The court heard that the defendant had drunk “three or four” pints of cider in the afternoon, and was driving to pick up his girlfriend.

Simon Ward, for Casson, said: “He feels ashamed and embarrassed about this matter.”