Drink-driver’s attack on witness to smash
A DRINK-DRIVER punched a witness in the face as he tried to call police.
David Thewlis was three-and-ahalf times over the limit when he was seen smashing into a parked car in Brockholes.
The 46-year-old tried to flee the scene but was stopped by Daniel Nasey who was assaulted by him as he attempted to alert police.
Thewlis was lucky to escape jail as he had a previous conviction for taking his young daughter in his car after drinking.
Prosecutor Shamalia Qureshi said the new offence happened as Thewlis drove along New Mill Road on September 8 last year.
She told Kirklees magistrates: “He was clearly under the influence of alcohol and collided with a parked Alfa Romeo.
“He continued to drive 20 metres before coming to a halt where he was confronted by Mr Nasey who tried to detain him.
“While he was on the phone to police the defendant tried to grab the phone.
“He (Mr Nasey) managed to call police and Thewlis punched him.”
The victim described Thewlis, of Royds Avenue in New Mill, as ‘aggressive’. He said he suffered from pain and swelling for a couple of days.
Police arrested Thewlis who had 121 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
This is three-and-ahalf times the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.
Thewlis pleaded guilty to driving while over the prescribed limit and assault by beating.
The court was told he had a previous conviction for drink-driving dating back to July 2011.
Then he left the house following a row with his partner, taking his 10-year-old daughter with him.
He was more than double the legal limit and banned from driving for 17 months.
District Judge Michael
Fanning said the level of alcohol in his system would have attracted a custodial sentence.
This was aggravated by the fact Thewlis collided with another vehicle, tried to make off and then assaulted a member of the public.
Judge Fanning said he was prepared to suspend his 12 week jail term for a year because at the time he was suffering from health issues and was cooperative with police at the scene.
Thewlis must complete 15 days of rehabilitation activities as part of a community order.
Judge Fanning banned him from driving for three years. He will have to pay his victim £200 compensation as well as £115 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. Of fer live u ntil 22.04.19. Of fer excludes weighed bags a nd treat cups. Ple a s e ch e ck you r s to re in a d va nce to a vo id d i sa p p o intm e nt.