High speed Bridgnorth driver gets drink-drive ban
A drink-driver was travelling at 95mph along 60mph road on his way home to Bridgnorth, a court was told.
Thomas James Smith pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
The court was told he had been convicted of the same offence in 2013.
Mrs Abigail Hall, prosecuting, said 23-year-old Smith had been driving a black BMW Mini Cooper "at a high speed" on the A454 towards Bridgnorth at 1.30am on September 3 when he was spotted by police officers travelling in the other direction.
The officers had turned their vehicle around to follow the defendant who they estimated was travelling between 90-95mph in a limit of 60mph, said Mrs Hall.
Officers smelt alcohol on the defendant's breath and Smith failed a roadside breath test and was arrested.
The test revealed 60 microgrammes in 100 ml of breath – the legal limit is 35.
Magistrates fined Smith £370 plus £272 of various court charges and banned him from driving for three years.
Magistrate Maxine Taplin said the bench would offer a drink drive awareness course which would allow the defendant to reduce his ban, despite the fact he had already taken one.We hope that you listen more attentively this time," she said.
Mr Chris Grainger, for Smith, said the defendant had been returning home from a work meeting in London. He said Smith, who works as a recruitment agent, had drunk three to four pints with his bosses, but had stopped drinking at 7.30pm to catch his train home.
Smith, of Cantern Bank, Bridgnorth, had missed his stop after falling asleep on the train and had to get another train back.
"Given the late hour and the fact that he had not drunk for some time, he felt OK to drive," said Mr Grainger.
