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05
Dec 2024
Man banned from driving after crashing car into the Valley Gardens
A man has been banned from driving after crashing his car into the Valley Gardens in Harrogate.
Prosper Matimba, 35, of Cornwall Road in Harrogate, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning charged with drink driving.
Matimba, who was dressed in jeans and a black jacket, spoke only to confirm his name and plead guilty to the offence.
Mel Ibboson, prosecuting, told the court that North Yorkshire Police were called to reports of a car crashing into a parked vehicle and entering the Valley Gardens at 3am on October 10.
Ms Ibbotson said the defendant’s car went through a hedge and “dropped six feet into the gardens”.
She said:
Officers said the defendant was in the driving side and was described to have been very dazed.
Matimba suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash and was breathalysed at the scene before being taken to Harrogate District Hospital.
The 35-year-old registered 246mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood — more than three times over the limit of 80mg.
The court heard that Matimba, a careworker, had been drinking a bottle of vodka at home after his wife and children had gone to bed.
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Ms Ibbotson said in the early hours of the morning, the defendant began to “feel unwell and panicked” and decided to get in his car to go to hospital.
She said Matimba got in his car, a red Mazda, and drove down Cornwall Road before hitting a parked car and entering the Valley Gardens through a hedge.
Ms Ibbotson said:
He told officers his memory was blurry and that he could not remember the crash.
‘You are lucky nobody was around’
Martin Townend, defending, told the court that Matimba, who is married with a young family, had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and was of good character.
He added that the defence did not dispute the facts of the case.
Mr Townend said:
The facts are accepted. You have heard that Mr Matimba has no previous convictions. He is in work and is married with a young family.
Magistrates banned Matimba from driving for 25 months and ordered him to undertake 80 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order.
He was also ordered to pay court costs of £199.
Magistrates told Matimba:
You are very lucky that it was only yourself who was injured. You are lucky that due to the time of day there was nobody around.
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