Drunk driver who hit fence, wall jailed

Mark George Cudmore sentenced to 60 days in jail on weekends after second drunk driving conviction

A P.E.I. man who hit a fence and a retaining wall while driving drunk was sentenced recently to 60 days in jail.

Mark George Cudmore, 39, appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court after previously pleading guilty to failing the breathalyzer.

During a recent court appearance, the court heard that a witness following Cudmore on Buchanan Drive on Sept. 21 saw his vehicle hit a fence and a retaining wall after swerving into oncoming traffic.

When the police arrived, they saw Cudmore’s damaged vehicle in a parking lot with parts of it on the ground.

Cudmore, who had a prior drunk driving conviction, later provided breathalyzer samples that were about 1.5 times the legal limit.

Defence lawyer Yolande Murphy told the court Cudmore hasn’t had a drink since the incident.

She asked for the sentence to be served on weekends because Cudmore is a single father and on EI.

The matter was adjourned for two days to get confirmation that Cudmore’s insurance paid for the damages to the retaining wall and fence.

At that time, Orr said it was fortunate Cudmore hit a fence and not a person or another vehicle.

Cudmore will serve the sentence on weekends starting today and will be on probation for 18 months.

He must also perform 100 hours of community service and pay a $100 victim surcharge.

Cudmore is banned from driving for two years.