Drink Driving Solicitors

A 25-year-old woman who teaches at a Chester college has been banned from the roads for almost two years after she was caught drink driving.

The woman, from Mold, was hoping to extend her contract to full-time at Cheshire College South and West where she currently teaches media part-time.

Given the nature of her work and her conviction, her job may now be at risk, said Mike Pugh, speaking in the woman’s defence.

He continued by explaining that his client suffered from anxiety and depression. Her partner, also employed by the college, outlined her battle with mental illness to the court further.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told the court how just after midnight on October 17 police indicated for the defendant to pull over by switching on their emergency lights. The woman attempted to park three times, stalled twice, and finally came to a halt on an angle.

On first addressing the police officers she said: “I know I am going to be over.”

Said Mr Espie: “It is as early a guilty indication as you are ever going to get”.

Mr Pugh told the court that his client had no previous convictions and was taking medication for her depression and anxiety however that day had been “a bit of a down day”.

He said that his client had consumed alcohol at home before driving a short distance to a local garage, and Probation Officer Andrew Connah continued to explain that she had in fact gone to get some cigarettes.

He said that she was genuinely remorseful and had good insight into the potential ramifications of her drink driving and had now stopped drinking entirely.

Mr Pugh also highlighted the fact that the defendant was not pulled over due to her manner of driving, rather that her lights were not switched on.

“She is extremely embarrassed to be before the court and is remorseful,” he said.

Mr Connah also told the court that the defendant’s grandmother had recently passed away and that she had been very much like a mother to her. Living in her house, it had a significant impact on her mental health.

He went on to say that the woman had two degrees and suffered from mental health issues since she was a child. She had undertaken various therapies to address them and the college was very supportive of her. She was also very active in the community and in charge of certain charity works including the distribution of fruit to Chester’s homeless.

At the time of her drink driving she felt had not been coping very well and it coincided with a break in her counselling.

Magistrates banned the woman from driving for 22 months as well as fining her £365 and ordering her to pay £85 costs and a £36 surcharge.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07855 806119.

A 69-year-old man has appeared in front of Magistrates in Burnley after being caught drink driving.

The man said he didn’t believe he would be over the limit, having been caught at 11.20am on September 25. He said he was embarrassed to be appearing in caught and sorry for what he had done.

The court heard that he was seen parking in the town centre by a witness who had previously seen him reversing on a cordoned-off car park for a closed-down pub.

Officers attended the scene after the witness contacted them and a breathalyser test on the defendant showed him to have 46cmg alcohol per 100ml breath. The legal drink driving limit is 35mcg.

David Lawson, defending, said that his client was extremely embarrassed by the turn of events.

“He accepts he had been drinking, but he didn’t think it would be over the limit,” he said.

Mr Lawson went on to add that the reason he moved the car from the coned off pub car park to the town centre was that he believed it would be safer there.

Upon being questioned by police, added Mr Lawson, his client cooperated fully.

Mr Lawson went on to say “He apologises through me. He is very remorseful for his actions and he is a man of good character.”

After pleading guilty to drink driving on Manchester Road, Magistrates banned the pensioner from driving for 12 months and fined him £120. He must also pay a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07855 806119.

A man from Newcastle was pulled over by police because of his broken registration plate and ended up receiving his third drink driving conviction in seven years.

On addressing the man to point out the damage they smelled alcohol and he failed a roadside breath test. He had argued with his girlfriend and decided to drive home.

Rebecca Gibson told the court for the prosecution: “It was around 11.30pm when a police officer noticed the defendant’s Ford Fiesta vehicle travelling in the opposite direction to him.

“The officer noticed that the number plate was broken, so he decided to turn his vehicle around and stop the Ford Fiesta.”

Results of the breath test showed the man to have 61mcg alcohol per 100ml breath where the legal drink driving limit is 35mcg.

Ms Gibson also informed the court that the defendant had previous drink driving convictions from 2011 and 2013 and so faced the minimum three-year ban.

Tony Malia explained in mitigation: “An unfortunate argument arose and it was something that impacted upon his life very substantially at the time.

“He then decided to get out the house.

“There’s no suggestion his driving was impaired in any way, shape or form and he fully co-operated with the police at the roadside.”

The defendant pleaded guilty to drink driving and Magistrates banned him from driving for 36 months. They also imposed a 12-month community order and fines of £400.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07855 806119.

A woman has been disqualified for drink driving after going out with friends to celebrate a new “dream job”.

Celebrating her last shift with colleagues, the 22-year-old decided to drive the 500 yards to her home while twice the legal limit, but just 200 yards into the journey she crashed her Audi into a parked car.

In March 2016, the care assistant received a 17-month ban for the same offence.

Charlotte Crane told Burnley Magistrates Court: “He [the owner of the parked car] went outside and was approached by [the defendant] who initially claimed that she needed assistance because her friends had run off.

“He called the police and they arrived. She then changed her story and accepted driving the Audi and made comments that she had been to a leaving do, had been done for drink driving before and apologised for her behaviour.”

On being breathalysed she blew a result of 78mcg alcohol per 100ml breath. The legal drink driving limit is 35mcg.

Mitigating for the woman, Daniel Frazer said: “What started out to be a happy occasion turned out to be an unmitigated disaster and unfortunately [my client] has nobody but herself to blame.

“She was, that evening, finishing her last shift as a care assistant. She had just got what she described as her dream job caring for young children in the community.

“She was asked by a few friends to go on an impromptu farewell. She went out and had a few drinks and that’s where the story starts to go south for [her].

“She is exceedingly remorseful. She knows she is going to be disqualified and the dream job required a driving licence so that’s now gone.”

After pleading guilty to drink driving, Magistrates banned her from the roads for 40 months, which may be reduced by 40 weeks on completion of the drink driving rehabilitation course. The court also imposed fines and costs totalling £299.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07855 806119.

Magistrates in Swindon have handed a Marlborough man a 17-month driving ban after he was caught drunk in charge of his vehicle in a car park.

Staff at McDonald’s contacted the police after seeing an open beer can in the 23-year-old driver’s car, and officers found him in the car park at 3.15am with the keys in the ignition.

He was found to be twice the legal drink driving limit with 81mcg alcohol per 100ml breath.

Jeremy Griffiths, mitigating, said that the defendant had not been in his right mind at the time of the offence – he was deeply upset following the suicide of a friend a week previously.

“That has really upset him at the time and had really made him not keep himself fully focused,” said Mr Griffiths.

The man worked at the Nationwide Building Society’s head offices in Swindon and was described as a very serious man.

Letters of support from two managers at the company said he had “full potential within the company and had the best level of customer satisfaction”, and Mr Griffiths continued to say that “he is a young man starting out his career. His colleagues have high hopes for his future.”

Addressing the bench, the young man said: The young man addressed the bench personally saying: “I’m standing before you having committed a serious offence. I wish to express my remorse,”

Paul Sample, Chairman of the Bench, told the man on sentencing: “You are a man of previous good character, without a stain, really, on your personal history.

“You are clearly very well regarded by those you work with and it is rare that we have a defendant who speaks from the deck with such clarity and showing such genuine remorse.

The man pleaded guilty to drink driving, with Magistrates imposing a fine of £295 and a driving ban of 17 months.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07855 806119.

A woman was apprehended by police for drink driving as she pulled into her driveway after being reported by a member of the public.

Worcester Magistrates Court heard that a breathalyser test administered at the scene twice showed her to be twice the legal limit, however she was unable to provide a sample at the police station following her arrest.

Police caught up to her at 3.15am and the tests showed her to have 125mcg alcohol per 100ml breath against the legal limit of 35mcg, according to Nicola Ritchie for the prosecution.

Katherine Maynereid, mitigating for the defendant, said that on the evening in question the woman had driven to a friends house with the intention of having a few drinks and staying the night.

Ms Maynereid continued, however: “She got into an argument as one of the friends was taking drugs, and she did not feel safe, and able to stay there.

“She then finds herself outside, with the keys in her hands. At that moment it seemed a good idea. It was a mile-and-half to her home.

“It was out of character.”

She went on to explain that the woman had at no point refused to give a sample, but that she had been left short of breath due to the stress of the argument, the arrest, and suffering from asthma – as such she was physically unable to complete the test.

The court also heard from the probation service that the woman had problems dealing with alcohol and that she would be suitable for a drink awareness course.

After pleading guilty to failing to provide a specimen on suspicion of drink driving, Magistrates ordered her to complete 14 sessionsata drink impairment programme and undertake 60 hours of unpaid work.

They also banned her from driving for 18 months and ordered her to pay £135 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

The ban may be reduced by 18 weeks on completion of a drink driving awareness course.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07855 806119.

A 22-year-old man who went for a night out with “old friends” has been disqualified for 26 months after writing off his car when drink driving on his way home.

The finance worker parked his car at his local station to get the train to Manchester, but on returning on the train with his parents after drinks he decided to drive home rather than get a taxi with them. He said he didn’t want to leave his six-week-old VW Gold there overnight.

Magistrates in Manchester heard that he collided with another vehicle on the A6033 Todmorden Road at around 10pm having drunk five pints of lager.

Prosecuting, David Morgan told the court: “His car ended up horizontal in the road.

“The defendant was unable to provide a breath sample at the scene and was taken into custody, where he provided a sample of 95mcg of alcohol.”

The legal drink driving limit is 35mcg alcohol per 100ml breath.

Lindsay Brown, mitigating, explained: “The defendant had been in Manchester centre with his parents.

“They had driven their vehicles to their local train station and caught the train into Manchester.

“He said he consumed five pints of lager whilst out and came back with his parents to Littleborough station.

“He and his parents went their separate ways and the defendant made the decision to drive his car the short distance home.

“An animal ran into the road and as he swerved to avoid it, the collision occurred.”

A probation service reports stated that the man got “carried away”.

“He recognises an error of judgement and says if the animal didn’t run into the road the accident would have been avoided,” they added.

“He said he didn’t feel drunk at the time of driving.

“The defendant says he was reluctant to leave his vehicle near the station overnight as he had only owned the car for six weeks.

“He said it was a ‘freak decision’.”

JP Tracy Kealy told him: “You are a very lucky man to be standing here and that your parents were not identifying your body in a morgue.

“Hopefully you will never put yourself – or anybody else – in that position again.”

The man pleaded guilty to drink driving and Magistrates banned him from the roads for 26 months, fined him £170, and ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07855 806119.

A woman who works with those who have suffered brain injuries – such as those involved in drink driving accidents – has appeared in court after committing the offence herself.

Police were called to the scene of an accident at Deer Leap – between Priddy and Wookey Hole in the Mendips, Somerset – on July 9.

Susan Butler, prosecuting, told the court that officers found a car blocking the road and the woman in the driving seat with the key in the ignition.

“She said she was not the driver of the vehicle and when asked to get out the officer requested a roadside breath test, and although she had three attempts she could not do it,” said Ms Butler.

Warning her of her arrest, the woman was taken to Bridgewater Police Station. Tests conducted there revealed her to have 97mcg alcohol per 100ml breath where the legal limit is 35mcg.

“When she was interviewed she confessed she had driven home when she shouldn’t have and crashed her car adding that she had drunk her last drink about 20 minutes before the collision,” said Miss Butler.

“She said she wasn’t sure how the collision occurred but said she didn’t like driving and didn’t always change the gears correctly.

“She did not realise how much she had had to drink and was angry as she would now probably lose her job.

“She also said she was suffering from depression after her relationship had ended and said that lots of things were going wrong in her home life.”

Hearing from probation officer Joe Harper, the court was told that the defendant had been helping out on the bar at Wookey Hole Social Club, where she had also had a few drinks before driving.

Prior to going there, she had been to her ex-partner’s home to drop off a birthday card for her stepson which upset her,” he explained.

“She knows she was drinking while at the club but cannot remember how much and then took the decision to drive believing she was ok to do so. She cannot remember losing control of her car or how she came to crash into a tree.

“She is very remorseful and fully regrets her actions and feels ashamed of herself as she feels she has let so many people down.”

“She now stands to lose her employment and may also have to lose her house and find alternative accommodation,” he added.

Ray Peters, defending, said that his client’s long-term relationship had ended in January having a devastating effect on her, and she was undergoing treatment for depression.

“On this particular day she went to her former partner’s home to take round a birthday card for her stepson and she decided to go to the club where she was asked to work behind the bar,” he said.

“She finished her work and did consume alcohol and then drove home when the accident occurred on a very narrow, single-track lane and she cannot explain why it happened.

“A disqualification will be a particularly onerous burden for her to carry and I would ask the court to take into account her exemplary character.”

After pleading guilty to drink driving, the woman was banned from driving for two years and ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work as part of a community order. Magistrates in Somerset also ordered her to pay costs of £85 and a £85 victim surcharge.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07855 806119.