Drunk Telford man had no intention of driving his van, court told
A former pub landlord from Telford who was found drunk in the driver's seat of a van had been drowning his sorrows and had no intention of driving, a court was told.
Paul John Wellings had parked on Limekiln Lane, near The Ercall, near Telford, to take a walk and "clear his head" after learning that his father had cancer, magistrates in Telford heard.
Wellings, of Arleston Lane, Arleston, said that after he had started drinking he had "no intention" of driving the vehicle and had planned to walk the one mile home before he was approached by police.
The engine of his VW Caddy Transporter was running solely to keep the car warm on March 6, the court was told.
But magistrates found Wellings guilty of being drunk in charge of a vehicle at his trial.
Mr Dilaor Miah, prosecuting, said that Wellings had provided a roadside breath test of 125 microgrammes in 100ml of breath, three times the legal limit of 35.
Emergency services had been alerted by a member of the public who had been concerned at Wellings' behaviour.
Mr Miah said that, following his arrest, Wellings had admitted to officers that he had been "in charge of the vehicle" during an interview where he had no legal representation.
Mr Nick Wadsworth, for Wellings, said that the law provided a defence if the defendant could prove that there was no likelihood of him driving the vehicle.
In court, Wellings, 44, said: "It was out of the way and that's where the vehicle was going to stay until the next day, without a shadow of a doubt."
He said he had driven to The Ercall and gone for a walk to clear his head after learning about his father's diagnosis.
But on returning to the vehicle he had begun drinking cans of cider and a bottle of vodka that he had bought for that evening.
Magistrates fined Wellings £600 and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £620, plus a victim surcharge of £60. He was also given 10 points on licence.
