Advice wanted please

[just_me]

I don't know the full details of exactly what happened but my best mate was drunk and crashed his car into another car. No one was hurt but he drove away, because he had been drinking. Later that evening the police arrested him and are charging him with 4 offences (driving under the influence, failure to stop, failure to report an accident and driving without due care and attention) he is panicing because he's been told he could get 18 months in prison. how likely is this? There is other circumstances going on - he's very seriously depressed and is having marriage problems - would these circumstances effect what sentence he gets?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Forum Moderator]

I don't know the full details of exactly what happened but my best mate was drunk and crashed his car into another car. No one was hurt but he drove away, because he had been drinking. Later that evening the police arrested him and are charging him with 4 offences (driving under the influence, failure to stop, failure to report an accident and driving without due care and attention) he is panicing because he's been told he could get 18 months in prison. how likely is this? There is other circumstances going on - he's very seriously depressed and is having marriage problems - would these circumstances effect what sentence he gets?
Thanks for any advice.

Your friend will not get 18 months in prison unless the case is sent to crown court. The absolute maximum he would receive for these offences is 6 months in a magistrates court and that is the absolute worse case scenario.

What sentence he receives will depend on a number of factors, including his previous criminal record, the level of alcohol recorded when he gave a specimen of breath, blood or urine and how much damage was caused when he crashed.

It is impossible to say what sentence he may receive without knowing all the facts and evidence surrounding this particular case. A driving ban and a community penalty order will be inevitable if a custodial sentence is avoided. Your friend should instruct a criminal defence solicitor specialising in drink driving laws as soon as possible.