Foolishfool123
New Member
Brief Description of Offence:
Had been at a wedding. Drank 3 large glasses of wine and (really stupidly) a shot of sambuca. Sure the wine would have put me over anyway as i am tiny and didn't eat much, but the shot was definitely the nail in the coffin. Got lost on the way home. Pulled over to do sat nav. my wing mirror had suffered damage the week previous (hedge)
and I think this was part of the reason the police decided to pull up next to me. (I was so gutted about the wing mirror at the time of it happening - if only I could have seen into the future eh!! what a fool...)
Blood Alcohol Level and Reading Type:
82mg and 80mg in breath at the station. 80 reading given in court. Couldn't get the breathalyser to give a reading at the roadside, think because I was on the verge of panic attack and couldn't really breathe properly.
Mitigating Factors:
First offence, good previous driving record. Complied fully with police. Polite by nature. character reference from my mother in law who is a retired teacher. Submitted an early guilty plea via post. (I believe) it was clear I was obviously an *idiot* on this occasion rather than someone who made a habit of this behaviour...
my parents came to court with me. Shows I have a supporting family who I haven't managed to alienate...
My case was heard just after someone who had done a runner from the court building; whether this caused the magistrates to look kindly on me as a responsible member of society owning my mistakes or whether they would have been more angered by the previous guys disappearing act I do not know.....
Aggravating Factors:
80 is a high reading. I am a small person. Wing mirror damage totally unrelated to the incident but still didn't look good. Was very persistent about having a cigarette but once I realised that wasn't an option I shut up.....
Legal Representation at Court?:
no, I represented myself (through the sobbing). Duty solicitor wasn't available for driving offences on that day
Sentence:
18 month ban(13.5m with course), £360 total fine inc costs.
Offered the Drink Driving Rehabilitation Course?:
yes fortunately. Was informed I could do the course and given leaflets regarding this before I went into the court room which was very reassuring indeed. I really, really appreciated that and it calmed me down substantially in the wait to be seen.
Sentence Comments:
i was very, very lucky. I was hoping against hope for 17 months but preparing for 24, so 18 is still very lenient and I am happy with that. I was also fortunate that I was between jobs and waiting for my dbs to clear to start my new job, so on the means testing form for the fine I was classified as unemployed. This was a blessing.
I've learnt my lesson. Not a drop will pass my lips if I'm going to be driving. Never, ever, ever again!!!!!
Had been at a wedding. Drank 3 large glasses of wine and (really stupidly) a shot of sambuca. Sure the wine would have put me over anyway as i am tiny and didn't eat much, but the shot was definitely the nail in the coffin. Got lost on the way home. Pulled over to do sat nav. my wing mirror had suffered damage the week previous (hedge)
and I think this was part of the reason the police decided to pull up next to me. (I was so gutted about the wing mirror at the time of it happening - if only I could have seen into the future eh!! what a fool...)
Blood Alcohol Level and Reading Type:
82mg and 80mg in breath at the station. 80 reading given in court. Couldn't get the breathalyser to give a reading at the roadside, think because I was on the verge of panic attack and couldn't really breathe properly.
Mitigating Factors:
First offence, good previous driving record. Complied fully with police. Polite by nature. character reference from my mother in law who is a retired teacher. Submitted an early guilty plea via post. (I believe) it was clear I was obviously an *idiot* on this occasion rather than someone who made a habit of this behaviour...
my parents came to court with me. Shows I have a supporting family who I haven't managed to alienate...
My case was heard just after someone who had done a runner from the court building; whether this caused the magistrates to look kindly on me as a responsible member of society owning my mistakes or whether they would have been more angered by the previous guys disappearing act I do not know.....
Aggravating Factors:
80 is a high reading. I am a small person. Wing mirror damage totally unrelated to the incident but still didn't look good. Was very persistent about having a cigarette but once I realised that wasn't an option I shut up.....
Legal Representation at Court?:
no, I represented myself (through the sobbing). Duty solicitor wasn't available for driving offences on that day
Sentence:
18 month ban(13.5m with course), £360 total fine inc costs.
Offered the Drink Driving Rehabilitation Course?:
yes fortunately. Was informed I could do the course and given leaflets regarding this before I went into the court room which was very reassuring indeed. I really, really appreciated that and it calmed me down substantially in the wait to be seen.
Sentence Comments:
i was very, very lucky. I was hoping against hope for 17 months but preparing for 24, so 18 is still very lenient and I am happy with that. I was also fortunate that I was between jobs and waiting for my dbs to clear to start my new job, so on the means testing form for the fine I was classified as unemployed. This was a blessing.
I've learnt my lesson. Not a drop will pass my lips if I'm going to be driving. Never, ever, ever again!!!!!
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