Court Dad drove to store after drinking at home

AN Ashton Vale dad drove to Asda after a night of festive drinking. Adam Jefferies, of Ashton Drive, had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he got behind the wheel last Christmas Eve.

The 31-year-old (pictured right) appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court and admitted drink-driving.

Police had spotted Jefferies driving a Ford Transit van on Winterstoke Road in the early hours.

Prosecutor Laura Opie said: “Police thought he was speeding so they turned around and followed the van onto Ashton Drive.

“He stopped and admitted immediately he had been drinking.”

Jefferies lives with his parents. He has three children – one just a few months old from his current relationship, and the other two, aged 10 and 11, with a previous partner.

John Stokes, mitigating, said: “His baby lives with his current partner a few doors away.

“This happened, sadly, on Christmas Eve. Mr Jefferies had finished work for the year. He was at home with his parents drinking.

“His partner with the young baby contacted him to say she was short of milk for the baby. He, as a consequence, proceeded to get into the van and drive to the local Asda store, approximately a mile away.”

On his return journey, police stopped him metres from his partner’s front door and gave him a breath test.

Jefferies had 80mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

The self-employed roofer normally earns around £2,000 a month. Mr Stokes said: “Unfortunately there will be drastic consequences arising from the inevitable driving disqualification. He will be unable to work.”

The lawyer asked magistrates to take this into account when deciding the length of the ban.

Ms Opie revealed Jefferies has a similar conviction from 2007.

Presiding Justice Georgia Ramsey imposed a 17-month disqualification on Jefferies. He must pay a £461 fine, £85 in costs and a £46 victim surcharge.

Mr Stokes advised his client he did not have to pay the debt immediately, suggesting £100 a month might be suitable given his financial difficulties.

Jefferies nodded and Ms Ramsey said: “£100 a month? Accepted – I was going to say £50.”