Motorist drink-drove ‘to save friend who was being attacked’

A 30-year-old motorist caught for the second time drink-driving said he was going to “save” a female friend who was being attacked.

Defending himself in court, Zyrus Golding said the woman had called him to say she was in trouble so he drove to a pub in Mackworth to collect her.

After leaving he was spotted by police and, because he stalled the car, they decided to pull him over believing he might be drunk.

He failed a roadside breath test and, after being taken to a police station to provide a second one, blew almost twice the legal limit.

Golding was asked by Magistrate Guy Wildgoose what he had to say about the offence. He replied: “I got a message from a friend saying she was being attacked.

“She only lived around the corner and I did drive to help her and save her. When the police pulled me over I did not resist. I am very sorry, I have just passed a firefighter exam and I need a licence for that job.

“I was just trying to help and get her home.”

Peter Bettany, prosecuting at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court, said the offence took place at around 1.30am on March 21, in Kingsbury Road. He said: “It is a very simple offence.

“The police decided to follow Mr Golding, who was driving a car out of a car park of a pub in Mackworth. He stalled and they decided to pull him over as they thought he might be drunk.

“He was stopped, gave a positive test and was taken to a police station where he blew a second reading of 65 (micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35).

“This is his second drink-driving offence in the past 10 years.

“The previous one was in March 2016 which resulted in a 20-month road ban. And in September 2017 he was convicted of driving while disqualified.”

Unemployed Golding, who gave an address of Ferngill Close, The Meadows, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without insurance and without a valid licence.

He was fined £120 with £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge. He was also disqualified from driving for three years.

Mr Wildgoose, chair of the bench, said: “You have pleaded guilty to your second drink-driving offence in a short number of years and, because of that, we have to disqualify you from driving for 36 months. That you have pleaded guilty allows us to give your credit.

“And we are offering you the chance to attend a drink-driver rehabilitation course.”