Tree surgeon who was more than three times over the legal drink driving limit, said he was only going to a shop for cigarettes
A Co Down man, who was three-and-a-half times over the drink driving limit, said he was only going to a shop for cigarettes.
The 55-year-old appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court.
-
-
Roy Freeburn, of Banbridge Road, Waringstown, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in breath.
The court heard police were informed of a possible drink driver in the Waringstown area on October 10 this year.
When they arrived, they found the defendant in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition at Banbridge Road, Waringstown.
Police noticed a strong smell of intoxicating liquor and his speech was slurred.
A preliminary breath test provided by Freeburn was 168 micrograms of alcohol to 100 millilitres of breath.
Freeburn told police he was ‘only getting cigarettes and thought he would be alright’, the prosecutor said.
A lower evidential breath test was 125 micrograms of alcohol to 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.
Freeburn’s solicitor, Mr Harry McCourt, said his client is a tree surgeon, adding: “Obviously his occupation is his main issue here. Being a tree surgeon he is required to work all around the country."
The solicitor said he has a letter from Freeburn’s employer who described him as a ‘dedicated and hard-working member of the team’.
“He has obviously made them aware of this and his job is in jeopardy,” said Mr McCourt who said his client needs his licence for work to go between jobs.
"So there’s a serious issue for this man’s employment,” he said.
The solicitor explained that on the day in question Freeburn was doing the garden as his home where he lives with his elderly father and was having a few drinks.
"He made a very stupid and obviously drunken decision to drive to his local shop which is not even a mile away,” said Mr McCourt.
He said his client is a carer for his father.
"I have told him that the reading is extremely high,” he said adding his client is “one of good character and full of remorse”.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan described the reading as “extremely high”, adding: “Your job is going to be jeopardy no matter what I do.”
He banned him from driving for 14 months and fined him £300 plus the £15 offender levy.