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26
Jan
Man who ‘supported campaign to lower drink-drive limit’ admits drink-driving in Ripon
A Ripon man who is in favour of the drink-drive limit being lowered has admitted drink-driving.
Daniel Kimberley, 25, pleaded guilty to one offence of drink-driving during at hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (January 22).
Prosecutor Juwairiyyah Aurangzeb told the court police received a report of a two-car collision on December 27 last year.
Officers went to the scene on the B6265 near Lynden Close in Ripon, where they found Kimberley.
The defendant was found to be three-times the drink-drive limit at the roadside, but gave a reading of 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath in custody.
The legal limit is just 35 micrograms.
Kimberley admitted to being the driver at the time of the crash, Ms Aurangzeb said, and told police he had consumed four pints that day.
The defendant also said he had slept and eaten between drinking and getting behind the wheel. After driving to buy some cigarette papers, Kimberley decided to “take the long route home”, which is when the collision occurred.
Kimberley has no previous convictions.
Defendant says he 'made a big mistake'
Brian Nuttney, defending, told the magistrates Kimberley cooperated with police both at the roadside and at the police station.
He made full admissions when interviewed by officers and has never been in trouble with the courts, Mr Nuttney added.
He said Kimberley, of Skelldale View, was remorseful and told police he “made a big mistake”.
The court heard:
Mr Kimberley feels strongly about this and has supported a campaign to lower the drink-drive limit. He takes this very seriously.
The defendant, an HGV and public transport engineer, drank four lagers that day.
When he returned home, he went to sleep twice and had a meal, so he “felt fine when he got in the car”.
“He got in a collision on his way home”, Mr Nuttney said.
The court heard:
Mr Kimberley has not drunk [alcohol] since the incident.
There were no passengers and no suggestion the road was busy.
Passing sentence, the chair of the magistrates’ bench told Kimberley:
Drinking four pints and then driving was not a sensible decision… your thoughtlessness led to a road-traffic accident.
Kimberley was banned from driving for 18 months, which would be reduced by 18 weeks if he completes a drink-drive awareness course.
He was also ordered to pay a total of £1,054 to the court, comprising a £692 fine, a £247 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
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