Ashamed Bridgnorth drink-driver gets rid of his car
A 70-year-old Bridgnorth man was found beside his car after he struck a roundabout while over the drink-drive limit on New Year's Day.
David Hinton was so ashamed at what he had done that he has since got rid of his car and changed his bank and doctor because he planned to get around by bus, Telford magistrates were told.
Mrs Kate Price, prosecuting, said Hinton, had been arrested at around 8.50pm on January 1 after the accident in Bridgnorth.
The court was told that Hinton had got into his car to drive to a cashpoint.
But as he approached the roundabout on the A458 another car had overtaken him at speed, causing him to swerve and mount the roundabout.
Hinton was later tested by police officers and found to have 90 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Yesterday he admitted one charge of driving with excess alcohol.
Hinton was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 23 months.
Hinton, of Bernards Hill, said he had felt fine to drive after drinking a brandy and a small beer during the evening, but later admitted that "he must have had a bit more brandy than he thought", said his solicitor, Mrs Kath Maynereid.
She told magistrates that the incident was the first time that Hinton had had dealings with the police. "The whole situation was very distressing and he's very ashamed of what he's done," she told the court.
She added that the offence was "entirely out of character and he's extremely remorseful".
Hinton refused the court's offer to take a drink-driving rehabilitation course to reduce the length of his driving ban. The court was told that he had three points on his licence for speeding.
Mrs Maynereid said: "He never wants to drive again, he no longer owns the car."
She added that the defendant, who retired three years ago, had applied for a bus pass for the first time and had moved his doctor and bank into Bridgnorth.
"He's looking now at a life after driving and he's going to get around on the bus," Mrs Maynereid added.
"He co-operated fully with the police and has nothing but praise for the police," she said.
Mrs Maynereid said Hinton had been suffering from ill-health.
