Four more drivers banned from the road

FOUR more drivers are banned from the road today after appearing before Ipswich magistrates on drink-driving related charges.

HELEN SKENE reports on their cases as part of The Evening Star's Christmas anti drink-drive campaign which pledges to report on all drink-related motoring court cases in the town this festive season.

SIX times 72-year-old Brian Hervey-Whaybourne attempted and failed to take a breath test after being suspected of drink-driving.

Today, the disabled Ipswich pensioner is banned from the road even though he told magistrates he needed a car to get around and was unable to take the test.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard Hervey-Whaybourne was stopped in his red Citroen in Friars Street, Ipswich, after police noticed his wing mirror was pushed in on November 30.

Gareth Davies, prosecuting, said: “He smelled strongly of alcohol and his eyes were glazed. He said he had had alcohol, but not for three hours.”

Hervey-Whaybourne of Emmanuel Close, was asked to give a breath test but after five failed attempts the officer arrested him and took him to a police station so he could blow into an intoximeter.

Mr Davies said Hervey-Whaybourne again failed to supply an adequate sample of breath and reported that his suspect was “pulling his mouth away from the mouthpiece.”

Hervey-Whaybourne blamed his asthma.

The officer asked him to supply a sample of blood or urine for testing instead but Hervey-Whaybourne refused the court heard.

When he appeared before Ipswich magistrates Hervey-Whaybourne pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Hervey-Whaybourne who walks with the aid of a stick told the court: “I need a car, I cannot get around. I did tell the officer concerned that I have asthma and could I have my activator from the car and he said blow here first and I failed to do so because I cannot.”

He added that he had recently suffered lip cancer and the area was still sore.

District judge David Cooper heard that Hervey-Whaybourne had recently received a Mobility car to use, but still banned him from driving for 16 months.

Judge Cooper said: “I am meant to disqualify you for two years but because of your previous good character and the difficulties it will cause you I will disqualify you from driving for 16 months.”

Hervey-Whaybourne was told he could reduce the term by a quarter if he completed the drink driver's rehabilitation course.

The pensioner was also fined £200 and ordered to pay £80 costs.

FELIXSTOWE drink driver Stephen Goddard lost his wife, his home and today he has lost his licence.

Goddard told Ipswich magistrates he was “silly” for refusing to give his estranged wife his car keys.

The 46-year-old drove his Rover 620 in Grange Road, Felixstowe, when he was almost twice over the legal limit after an argument with his wife on December 1.

Goddard had met up with his estranged wife at the Owl and Pussycat public house with the hope of reconciliation, South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard.

Lesla Small, prosecuting, said Goddard, of Grange Road, had been drinking throughout the afternoon and evening.

She said: “There were problems between Mr and Mrs Goddard. They had an argument and she tried to get him to hand his car keys over after he threatened to drive.”

Ms Small said Goddard left the pub. A member of the public telephoned the police and he was found sitting in the driver's seat of his car outside his house.

Police discovered Goddard had 65 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs of alcohol.

Goddard, who represented himself in court, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He told magistrates': “I would like to apologise for what I did. It was very silly of me because I had my wife with me. We had split up previously for this and I lost my house and home. We went out to try and patch things up and it didn't work. I got a bit ratty.”

Magistrates' fined Goddard £250 and told him to pay £80 towards costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 16 months.

A DELIVERY driver who has just discovered he is to become a father is today looking for another job after drink-driving.

Ravinder Sahota was banned from getting behind the wheel for 20 months after he was spotted in a black Vauxhall Vectra in Ipswich while twice over the legal limit.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard that a member of the public telephoned the police to let them know a drunk driver had just left the Shell Garage in London Road at 12.30am on December 1.

Gareth Davies, prosecuting, said the 21-year-old of Fox Lea, Kesgrave was breathalysed and 73 microgrammes of alcohol were discovered in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs of alcohol.

Sahota pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and told the court he would lose his job as a delivery driver. He added: “My girlfriend is pregnant as well.”

Sahota said he would be looking for a new job so he could support his partner and their baby, which is due to be born in July.

Sahota was fined £400 and told to pay £80 towards costs.

Meanwhile a 21-year-old drink driver is today banned from the road for a year.

Marcus King, of Landseer Road, Ipswich was caught driving in Burrell Road on December 1 at 12.30am.

He had 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court disqualified him from driving for 12 months and fined him £100.

King was told to pay £80 towards costs.