Penygroes drink-driver's plea: Can I walk home? (From South Wales Guardian)

Penygroes drink-driver's plea: Can I walk home?

9:00am Thursday 10th January 2013 in News

A 32-YEAR-old Pengroes man who lost contact with his pal on a night out decided to drive home despite being almost twice the legal limit, magistrates have been told.

Aaron Lee Williams, of 152 Waterloo Road, was stopped by police in Llanelli town centre at 2.05am on December 8.

Gerald Neave, prosecuting, told Llanelli magistrates that officers became concerned after they came to a stop at traffic lights and spotted Williams’ orange MG ZR on the opposite carriageway more than a car’s length beyond the stop line.

Williams was “slumped forward in his seat and was transfixed, staring straight ahead,” said Mr Neave.

“The officers wound down their windowand called out to him, but he ignored them or did not hear them despite being only 10 feet away.”

When the lights changed Williams drove away, but he was soon stopped by the officers.

When they spoke to him, the officers noted that he smelt of alcohol, his eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred.

When told he was being arrested on suspicion of drink-driving, Williams asked if he could be allowed to walk home.

Tests showed he had 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Gareth John, defending, told magistrates that Williams had been for a night out in Llanelli with a friend and drunk “four or five pints”.

Mr Jones said Williams had intended to spend the night at his pal’s house.

“Unfortunately, he lost contact with his friend and when he tried to phone him he got no answer,” said Mr Jones.

“He made a rash decision and decided to take his vehicle and drive to his home address.

“He bitterly regrets his decision.”

Williams pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Magistrates banned him from driving for 17 months, fined him £200 and ordered he pay £85 court costs.