Shropshire Star

Warrant for arrest of Otis Ferry over drink hearing

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Shropshire hunt master Otis Ferry after he failed to appear in court following an arrest on suspicion of drink-driving.

Published
Otis Ferry

Ferry was found guilty in his absence of failing to provide a breath sample.

The 29-year-old son of Roxy Music star Bryan Ferry, now faces a year-long driving ban after being found guilty by magistrates in London.

Ferry, master of the South Shropshire Hunt from Eaton Mascott, near Shrewsbury, was stopped by police in London in Kensington in the early hours earlier this month

Officers had become suspicious after seeing the rear windows of the black Mercedes were down and a woman was smoking out of one of them. The police could reportedly smell alcohol and Ferry failed a roadside breath test. He allegedly said he had drunk 'a pint of cider with his lunch'.

He was taken to a police station, where he refused to take another test.

On Friday, West London Magistrates Court found him guilty after he was charged under the name Charles Frederick Ferry.

According to reports, Sergeant John Longdon told the court: "He seemed to believe the incident was amusing."

He will be sentenced at a later date after failing to attend the hearing.

And a spokesman for the magistrates court said today a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Ferry was not available for comment today.

Failure to provide a breath sample carries a maximum fine of £5,000 and a minimum driving ban of one year. The 29-year-old was previously jailed for four months in 2008 after being accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to an affray and assault case.

He spent four months in custody before the charges against him were dropped. In 2004, Ferry was arrested for bursting into the House of Commons as a debate on the Hunting Bill took place.

By Chris Burn

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.