Ban for driver who drove after six pints
A DRINK-driver who took to the wheel after six pints and overturned his car in a hedge is today banned from the road.
Simon Tomlinson
A DRINK-driver who took to the wheel after six pints and overturned his car in a hedge is today banned from the road.
Christopher Challis spent his 21st birthday in court on Monday, where he admitted to being over the limit after a night out in Pals nightclub in Ipswich.
Challis, of Springfield Road, Lower Somersham, had no money for a taxi home, so he “risked” driving and ended up flipping his car off the road in Loraine Way, Bramford, on July 13.
South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard police officers were called at 10.30pm to an overturned Volkswagen with people trapped inside.
Lesla Small, prosecuting, said: “Officers found another vehicle which had tied a rope to the other car and was in the process of trying to remove the vehicle.
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“Challis said to the officers 'I just lost it, I was driving too fast'.”
Challis, who works for a traffic management company, had 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Challis, representing himself in court, said: “Me and my mate were in Pals and we'd had a few drinks. I'd had six pints of Carlsberg. “We thought about paying for a taxi but we had no money, so I thought I would risk driving.
“I turned a corner too fast and went in a bush. It was a stupid thing to do and I am sorry for what I did.”
Sentencing Challis, chairman of the magistrates Ted Draper said it was lucky that he hadn't injured himself or anyone else.
He added: “You were well over the limit - twice the legal limit. It was a foolish decision you made knowing you had drunk six pints of lager.”
Challis was disqualified from driving for 20 months, fined £180 and told to pay court costs of £65 and a victim surcharge of £15.
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