Teaching assistant gets two-year driving ban after crashing into hedge
A teaching assistant has been banned from driving for two years after pleading guilty to refusing to provide a specimen for analysis after he crashed a car into a hedge.
Adam Bloomer, aged 29, of Roberts Road, Madeley, in Telford, crashed on November 1, 2023 after a night out in a pub with people he did not know, magistrates heard.
Telford Magistrates Court was told on Tuesday that Bloomer had waited in the homeowner's living room after the evening crash and waited for the police to arrive. But when officers turned up he refused to give his details or provide a specimen for analysis.
Jonathan Mason, mitigating, handed the district judge a number of references from Bloomer's employers and said the incident was "totally out of character" for him. Bloomer works with children who have been excluded from mainstream education.
Mr Mason said his client had been drinking in a pub and had three pints but he had "suspicion that his drinks had been spiked with tablets.
"He thinks three people may have been trying to take advantage of him. Items had gone missing from the car," said Mr Mason.
"He cannot understand and is ashamed by his behaviour."
Mr Mason added that Bloomer had "let himself down badly" and did not know if it would affect his employment.
But District Judge Kevin Grego said there had been "no evidence of spiking".
He added that Bloomer had "behaved aggressively" and had been "difficult" at the police station.
"There had been obnoxious behaviour in the police station," he added.
Handing down a two-year driving ban, the judge also ordered Bloomer to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months.
Bloomer was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the owners of the hedge.