12:00pm Tuesday 1st January 2013
A DRIVER was more than twice the drink-drive limit after consuming double strength Polish vodka.
Tomasz Musialek of West Street, Evesham, admitted drink driving when he appeared before district judge Nigel Cadbury at Worcester Magistrates Court.
The court heard how the 61- year-old was stopped in Port Street, Bengeworth, while behind the wheel of his Toyota Avensis during the incident on December 1.
A breath test showed a reading of 86mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, nearly two-and-a-half times the limit.
Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting, said he collided with some cones and a member of the public had gone over to the car and banged on the window but he drove away.
She said: “He had caused an oncoming vehicle to brake sharply to avoid a collision. He was located at his home address.”
He was subject to a roadside breath test and he was arrested and taken to the police station where the evidential reading was taken.
In police interview he said he had been to a friend’s house that afternoon and had been drinking.
Miss Lovegrove said: “He said he had not eaten all day and he stupidly decided to drive his car.
He now accepts he was silly and could have hurt somebody by his actions.”
Chris Hilton, defending, said Musialek had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, only drank alcohol on special occasions and had been at a friend’s birthday.
Mr Hilton said: “He had three vodkas but they are Polish vodkas which are the equivalent of doubles. I asked him why he decided to drive. He’s unable to explain that. He appreciates he’s going to get disqualified.”
District judge Nigel Cadbury said: “It’s a serious offence to drive a motor vehicle with excess alcohol. It is made worse because you were so much over the limit, well over twice the limit. It seems that you knew perfectly well you should not have been driving.”
Mr Cadbury banned him from driving for 22 months although he will get a five-and-a-half month reduction in the length of the ban if he completes a course by January 31, 2014.
He also fined him £200 and ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a £20 victim surcharge.
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