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Boozing soldier in road crash
A SOLDIER went out drinking in Driffield before crashing his car into two parked vehicles and driving off, a court has heard.
Liam Richard Craven, 21, of Eight Acre Lane, Colchester had been drinking in the Original Keys Pub before he crashed his Vauxhall Vectra into two cars on Beverley Road in the early hours of 5 December.
Craven pleaded guilty to being the driver of a vehicle and failing to stop after a road accident, driving without due care and attention, and to driving over the legal alcohol limit when he appeared at Bridlington Magistrates Court last Wednesday (18 January).
Prosecutor Jayne Wilson told the court that Beverley Road residents heard two collisions before a Vauxhall Vectra was seen driving off on the A164 towards Beverley. Police officers found that one car had been so damaged it would probably have to be written off, while the side of a VW Beetle had also been extensively damaged.
Police headed off towards Beverley and found a silver rear bumper with the number plates registered to Craven dumped on the road side.
At 2.45am officers sighted a Vauxhall Vectra with a bumper missing on Woodhall Way, Beverley.
“The driver got out of the car, was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glazed,” Mrs Wilson said.
A breath test revealed Craven had 72micrograms of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath - the legal limit being 35mg.
Craven told officers he had been drinking in the Original Keys and had set off back to Beverley. “He thought he had hit a kerb,” Mrs Wilson added.
Craven, who represeted himself during the hearing said: “I had too much to drink, thought I was could drive back, I was over the limit and too drunk to drive which caused that accident. I can only apologise again for what I have done.”
Presiding magistrate Robin Sunley warned Craven that all three offences were serious and failing to stop at an accident could lead to prison.
But Craven was fined £250 for each offence and his licence endorsed. He was banned from driving for 20 months and offered a drink driver rehabilitation course. Craven must also pay £85 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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