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12-month ban for drink-driver

9:58am Friday 2nd March 2001



DRINK-DRIVER Darren Hambidge knocked back a couple of pints of lager shandy before being spotted by police driving erratically along the road, a court heard.

Hambidge, 22, of Leachcroft, Chalfont St Peter, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol when he appeared at Wycombe Magistrates Court on Monday.

John Horn, prosecuting, said two officers had seen a Fiat Uno car being driven "erratically" on the A143 in Chalfont St Peter, on January 12.

They pursued Hambidge down Nicol Road and pulled him over before carrying out a breath test after smelling alcohol on his breath.

Hambidge was given a blood test at the police station which showed an alcohol level of 92 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal drink-drive limit is 80 milligrammes.

Stephen Toghill, defending, told the court that Hambidge had just gone out for a couple of pints of lager shandy but now understood he had to "face the consequences".

He added that Hambidge worked in High Wycombe and would be severely inconvenienced through not being able to drive a car.

Magistrates disqualified Hambidge for 12 months and ordered him to pay a £140 fine and £60 prosecution costs.

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