‘Salutary lessson’ as drink driver to lose job at bank...

22-year-old had 8 passengers in his car when he was stopped

BANK worker Joshua Pointon will lose his job after he was caught drink driving.

The 22-year-old had eight passengers in his Renault Clio when he was stopped by police near Leek.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard he had been out for a meal when a friend called him to ask for a lift.

Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “At about 10.40pm on April 24, officers were on patrol on Thorncliffe Road when they saw the defendant driving a motor vehicle. It contained eight passengers, meaning it was overloaded by at least four people.

“Police stopped the vehicle and all the passengers appeared to leg it, leaving this defendant.

“It was apparent he had been drinking. He failed a roadside breath test.”

Pointon, of Prince Charles Avenue, Leek, was arrested and went on to give an alcohol reading of 63 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle while over the alcohol limit. He had no previous convictions.

Mark Harrison, mitigating, said: “Mr Pointon had been out with friends for a meal. I received a phone call from a friend asking for a lift. It’s in a rural area so he decided to go. It’s only when he arrived that he realised the others are there. He gave them a lift and he’s then stopped.

“He apologises, he is remorseful. He works as a bereavement advocate for a bank. He tells me he will lose that employment as a result of this conviction. He lives with his parents.”

Magistrates fined Pointon £120 and disqualified him from driving for 18 months, which will be reduced if he completes a drink drive rehabilitation course. He must also pay £169 in court costs and charges. Chairman of the bench, Chris Rushton, said: “This has been a salutary lesson for you, because you are going to lose your employment.”