Solicitor spared jail after fifth conviction for drink-driving
ASOLICITOR known for representing convicted murderer Dai Morris has avoided jail after being caught drink-driving for a fifth time.
Gail Evans recently appeared in Sky’s Murder in the Valleys series, speaking about her role in the legal team of David ‘Dai’ Morris.
The late Morris was twice convicted of the 1999 Clydach Murders in which Doris Dawson, her daughter Mandy Power, and grand-daughters Katie and Emily were found bludgeoned to death and their house set on fire.
Evans attended Cardiff Magistrates’ Court yesterday after admitting drinkdriving, driving without due care and attention, and failing to report an accident.
The 61-year-old, from Neath, was behind the wheel of a Mini at around 7.30pm on November 6 last year when she crashed into a Jaguar E-Pace at Briton Ferry rugby club’s car park.
Prosecutor Hannah Friedman said the victim Ms Wyatt had driven her Jaguar to the club to pick up her partner. After Ms Wyatt stopped in the car park, Evans exited the club and “stumbled” towards her nearby Mini, the court heard.
Ms Friedman added: “Ms Wyatt saw the Mini reversing towards her vehicle and scraping along the driver’s side until it reached the driver’s window. She recognised the driver as the defendant, who had stumbled out of the rugby club minutes earlier.
“The defendant stumbled out of the vehicle and appeared to be drunk. Ms Wyatt’s partner recognised the defendant as having been in the club drinking all afternoon.”
The victim called 999 and while she was on the line, Evans kept repeating the words: “We can sort this out ourselves. We can make arrangements to sort this out.”
Evans then got back in her Mini and parked nearby. Police attended and found Evans walking in the direction of her Taylor’s Row home. She blew 90mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
The defendant has seven previous offences on her record, including four for drink-driving in 1997, 2000, 2011 and 2013. She was given a conditional discharge in 2014 for assaulting her sister Janyl Willis in a drunken pub fight over a family will. The court heard Evans earns £28,000 to £30,000 a year.
Her lawyer Huw Davies said: “The defendant resides on her own in rented accommodation in Neath. The facts [outlined by the prosecutor] are accepted.”
Deputy District Judge Paul Conlon said he had read the presentence report and that he was “minded to allow her to keep her liberty today”.
Mr Davies told the judge he had nothing further to add.
Judge Conlon sentenced Evans for the Briton Ferry driving offences as well as a speeding offence which was proven in her absence at an earlier hearing. She claimed she had not been notified of that court date.
The judge said: “I note you have responded well to previous interventions by the probation service and it is that which allows me to suspend the sentence. I feel there is a realistic prospect of full rehabilitation.”
Judge Conlon imposed a 13-week jail term suspended for a year. Evans must complete 10 days of rehab activity and pay a £500 fine for her speeding. The judge banned her from driving for four years and she must pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.