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21
May
Drunk soldier crashed car into ditch after night out in Ripon
A soldier was found to be over the drink-drive limit when his car left a road in Ripon and crashed into a ditch, Harrogate Magistrates Court has heard.
Finlay Wright, 19, admitted drink-driving at the court this morning (May 21).
Prosecutor Anthony Farrell said a member of the public called the police at around 3.40am on April 30 this year after spotting a car in a ditch opposite Ripon Racecourse.
When police arrived at the scene on Boroughbridge Road, they saw the car was still in the ditch and had crashed through a bush. The engine was also still running.
Mr Farrell said officers believed Wright, who was in the driver’s seat when they arrived, had been driving under the influence of alcohol at the time.
A roadside breath test corroborated this and Wright, of Harley Terrace in Newcastle, was arrested.
He then recorded 43 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath at the police station, over the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
Wright is of previous good character and had never been before the courts.
Defence
Andrew Tinning, defending, told the magistrates Wright has served in the army for just over two years.
His lieutenant was in court during the hearing and, according to Mr Tinning, was observing the case to report back to the army.
Wright is based at Dishforth and, on the night of the offence, went to Ripon to meet some friends.
Mr Tinning said:
Mr Wright decided: ‘I can have a couple of drinks as long as I stop after that, and I’ll be fine’.
He learned that is not the case.
The defendant insists he had no more than two drinks, the court heard, and claimed he left several hours between drinking his last drink and getting behind the wheel.
Mr Tinning added:
Mr Wright told the police his car lost traction and went through a bush.
The car appeared largely undamaged, but he couldn’t get it out from where it was. He had been in the car for some time before police got there.
He said Wright fully cooperated with police, adding the mandatory driving ban will have an impact on Wright’s job as his role involves “driving tasks”.
The court also heard:
The army are likely not going to be best pleased.
The consequences of his actions that night are going to be determined when a report is given to his commanding officer.
Wright expressed his remorse to both police and Mr Tinning.
Passing sentence, the chair of the magistrates’ bench said:
Perhaps you have been a bit naive, perhaps you have been a bit stupid.
It could’ve been far worse: people could’ve suffered serious injuries.
Wright was banned from driving for 14 months, which will be reduced by 14 weeks if he completes a drink-drive awareness course.
He was also ordered to pay a £442 fine, a £177 surcharge and £85 towards prosecution costs.
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