Gorslas bank worker banned after drink-driving (From South Wales Guardian)

Gorslas bank worker banned after drink-driving

6:00pm Thursday 3rd January 2013 in News

A 30-YEAR-OLD Gorslas bank worker has been banned from getting behind the wheel for three years after crashing into a parked car while driving home under the influence of alcohol.

Russell Lesley Clacy, of 2 Castle Villas on Llandeilo Road, drove his Audi A4 into the stationary vehicle on the A476 Cross Hands Road while heading home at midnight on November 24 after watching Wales take on the All Blacks in the pub.

Gerlad Neave, prosecuting, told Carmarthen magistrates that police arrived at the scene of the accident to find Clacy and two others standing on the roadside.

Clacy immediately identified himself as the driver.

“He was unsteady on his feet, slurring his words and he smelled of intoxicants,”

Mr Neave told the court.

While travelling to Ammanford police station, Clacy told officers: “I’m sorry. I apologise. I’m going to lose my job and my kids. I was stupid, I only live down the road.”

Tests showed Clacy had 97 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Peter Martin, defending, described Clacy as a young man with a good job who lived “yards not miles” from the pub.

“This was an appalling error of judgement,” said Mr Martin.

“However, he did do the sensible thing and stayed to face the music.”

Mr Martin said that Clacy had spoken to his employers and hoped he would be able to keep his job with HSBC bank.

Clacy pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal limit.

The court was told that Clacy had one previous conviction for drink-driving.

Magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order with a 12-month supervision requirement.

Clacy was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £15 legal surcharge.