Drunk Driver Avoids Custodial Sentence after Blowing in Excess of 4 Times the Legal Limit.

Barrister Helen Newbold represented this driver after they were reported to the police for drink driving after a minor traffic collision. Having blown a sample of breath well in excess of 4 times the legal limit the driver was under no illusion that the starting point for sentencing in the court was 26 weeks imprisonment.  Setting out the circumstances of the offence and the personal mitigation of the offender Helen Newbold was able to persuade the court that the driver had already taken steps to address their alcohol dependency. Further  she reminded the court that the facts of the case would demonstrate that the circumstances of the driver would fall under the relevant disability criteria and therefore the court had a duty to assist them in managing that disability and a custodial sentence would not assist that process.

The driver was sentenced to a Community Order and rehabilitation days as well as a disqualification from driving for 36 months.