DROVE OFF WITH AIR HOSE ATTACHED
Repeat drink-driver with ‘deliberate disregard to road users’ safety’ jailed:
ADRINK-DRIVER drove from a garage forecourt with an air hose still attached to his deflated tyre, a court heard.
Magistrates were told Robert Holmes, of Trem Eryri, Menai Bridge, failed a roadside breath test but he refused to give a specimen at Caernarfon police station.
It was his third drink-driving offence in a few months, the court at Caernarfon heard.
The 34 years-old was jailed for 26 weeks and banned from driving for 52 months after his release from prison.
He admitted criminal damage at Tyn Lon garage, Llanfair PG, Anglesey, after the prosecution said the air-line snapped.
He must pay also £200 compensation. Holmes admitted failing to provide a breath test on August 7 and also pleaded guilty to driving a Toyota Hilux while unfit through drink at Llanfair PG two days later and failing to stop after a collision with a car outside a store.
The prosecution said he was found slumped in his vehicle, clearly drunk, on that occasion.
However, the first offences were on June 9. Holmes admitted drink-driving at Abergele and attempted criminal damage to a Hyundai belonging to a Good Samaritan who had stopped to help him when she saw the defendant stumbling around near a parked van.
He must pay £95 compensation after her rear windscreen needed replacing.
Prosecutor Diane Williams said in November Holmes had convinced magistrates to return his licence early after a four-year ban.
Defence solicitor Carla Forfar said Holmes had worked in the construction industry but nine months ago “the wheels came off” and he was made redundant. Huge debts arose.
Mrs Forfar said Holmes had been too ashamed to admit he had been made redundant and pretended to go to work, but went to the pub instead.
The probation service said Holmes continued to “minimise” his behaviour while seeming apologetic.
He had reversed into a car containing a child on August 9.
Court chairwoman Sian Payne told the defendant: “You have shown a deliberate disregard to the safety of road users and property of others.”