Ashamed ... advice needed about community service order

[GEDD]

Hello all,
My Story that will change my life forever ...
I was arrested for drink driving on the 22nd Feb 13. I was reported to the police by a member of the public driving on the motorway "weaving". Got home and with the key in the door the police arrived, was breathalysed and arrested. Blew 92 at the station. Admitted guilt.
I have never been in trouble before, it was the first time I had ever been inside a police station and was in a cell for 5 hours, got released and the officer who arrested me kindly gave me a lift home - police station was 10 miles away from home. I've been driving for 36 years, clean licence, so should have not driven at all but had been with a friend of 25 years and he told me he has terminal cancer. One too many glass of wine, got in the car and drove home. STUPID. I am also not sleeping, not eating, having panic attacks and feel so ASHAMED. I will be loosing everything due to the criminal conviction as I travel for my work and need visas.
In court on the 28th March, I wish it was sooner so all this could be ended.
I have a specialist solicitor on board, who has been great so far. I don't think I'll be able to speak in court!
I have already sold my car and am finding it very difficult to travel any distance in a car as a passenger without wanting to get out.
This is the most terrible thing that has EVER happened to me.
Mentally this website is a godsend, I'm sure I would have gone off the edge by now without it.
I have a question that I hope someone on here will be able to answer ...
I work overseas on rotation, currently 3 weeks on and one week off. It looks like I'll get a medium level CO. Has anyone ever been able to serve the CO on a week in every four week basis?? I would be more than happy to work 40 hours in that one week so long as I can keep my job. Or something different to every week?? If I cant do this then I'm out of work and will probably have to leave my profession to find another job, not easy in the current climate and being over 50. Any advice would be gladly received.

 

[Forum Moderator]

Hello all,
My Story that will change my life forever ...
I was arrested for drink driving on the 22nd Feb 13. I was reported to the police by a member of the public driving on the motorway "weaving". Got home and with the key in the door the police arrived, was breathalysed and arrested. Blew 92 at the station. Admitted guilt.
I have never been in trouble before, it was the first time I had ever been inside a police station and was in a cell for 5 hours, got released and the officer who arrested me kindly gave me a lift home - police station was 10 miles away from home. I've been driving for 36 years, clean licence, so should have not driven at all but had been with a friend of 25 years and he told me he has terminal cancer. One too many glass of wine, got in the car and drove home. STUPID. I am also not sleeping, not eating, having panic attacks and feel so ASHAMED. I will be loosing everything due to the criminal conviction as I travel for my work and need visas.
In court on the 28th March, I wish it was sooner so all this could be ended.
I have a specialist solicitor on board, who has been great so far. I don't think I'll be able to speak in court!
I have already sold my car and am finding it very difficult to travel any distance in a car as a passenger without wanting to get out.
This is the most terrible thing that has EVER happened to me.
Mentally this website is a godsend, I'm sure I would have gone off the edge by now without it.
I have a question that I hope someone on here will be able to answer ...
I work overseas on rotation, currently 3 weeks on and one week off. It looks like I'll get a medium level CO. Has anyone ever been able to serve the CO on a week in every four week basis?? I would be more than happy to work 40 hours in that one week so long as I can keep my job. Or something different to every week?? If I cant do this then I'm out of work and will probably have to leave my profession to find another job, not easy in the current climate and being over 50. Any advice would be gladly received.

Ensure your solicitor is aware of your employment situation and that they make the court aware of your situation. Often people who are expecting some sort of community order will be assessed by a probation officer before sentencing. This is known as a pre-sentence report and is carried out to assess the suitability of various sentencing options for the defendant. There are other sentencing options available at the courts disposal apart from unpaid work such as supervision orders, curfew and courses such as the drink impaired drivers (DIDS) course.

 

[GEDD]

Ensure your solicitor is aware of your employment situation and that they make the court aware of your situation. Often people who are expecting some sort of community order will be assessed by a probation officer before sentencing. This is known as a pre-sentence report and is carried out to assess the suitability of various sentencing options for the defendant. There are other sentencing options available at the courts disposal apart from unpaid work such as supervision orders, curfew and courses such as the drink impaired drivers (DIDS) course.

Many thanks for the reply, much appreciated! The solicitor is totally aware of the situation so I hope that the sentence is something that will work for me, but I fear that the court wont look too kindly on my request as it seems I'm 'trying to get away with it'.
This forum is great by the way, it really has done me a world of good to know I am not the only one in this situation...Thanks.