Drink driver escapes jail

A DRINK driver has been spared prison after being caught almost four times the limit.

John Braddish, 48, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court for a charge of drink driving on June 28 and a separate charge of failing to stop at the scene of an accident earlier in the year.

Braddish, of Sun Lane, Woodbridge, said he had developed a drinking problem after his mother died. He had been her carer for 16 years before her death.

Sarah-Jane Atkins, prosecuting, said: "It was around 8.50pm when a uniformed officer saw him park on a road close to his home. The officer approached him and spoke to him and noticed he smelt of alcohol."

A reading recorded Braddish had 128mgs in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mgs.

The court also heard that on April 27 Braddish drove into the side of a pensioner's car on the A12 slip road for Wickham Market. He did not stop despite extensive damage to both cars.

Miss Atkins, added: "Police were contacted the next day by a garage owner who had been contacted by the defendant to fix his car. He had said he had been involved in an accident but the garage owner soon became suspicious."

Ian Duckworth, mitigating, said: "He has not tried to get help before because he didn't realise he had a drink problem.

"The night before he was arrested for driving under the influence he had stayed up drinking wine until 4am. He says he only had two pints that night but it was just topping up what he had drunk the night before."

Before disqualifying Braddish from driving for 12 months, presiding magistrate, Bernie Stowe, said: "I hope you are fully aware that you could have gone to prison today because you were four times over the limit."

Braddish was given an 80 hour Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Order and made to pay £86 court costs.

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