DRUNK MAN SLUMPED AT WHEEL OF VAN HAD NOWHERE TO SLEEP
31-year-old was nearly twice legal limit
HOMELESS Andrew Ferns was caught slumped over the steering wheel in his van while over the drinkdrive limit.
The 31-year-old had nowhere to sleep so decided to get some rest in his van in Burslem.
But members of the public called the police after seeing him leaning over the steering wheel in the morning.
Officers attended and breathalysed Ferns who was over the drink-drive limit.
He was arrested for being drunk in charge of a vehicle and he kicked out at a police car window on the way to custody, causing damage. Now Ferns has been hit with a £462 court bill at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
Prosecutor Emma Thompson said police were called to attend Louise Street, Burslem, at 8.50am on October 22 due to concerns about a man in a white van leaning over the steering wheel.
Miss Thompson said: “The defendant had the keys in the ignition. Police carried out a roadside breath test and he gave a positive reading.
“He was arrested for being drunk in charge and taken to the police station. In the back of the police car he kicked out, damaging the back door window.”
At the police station Ferns was breathalysed and gave a reading of 64 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, nearly twice the legal limit of 35.
In his police interview Ferns said he fell asleep in the van as he had nowhere to live. He previously lived with his girlfriend but they split up. He accepted it was his vehicle and added he had nowhere to live.
He said he kicked the window as police put the handcuffs on too tight and he was ‘not going to sit there in pain’.
Ferns, care of Johnson Place, Fegg Hayes, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle when over the drink drive limit and criminal damage.
Representing himself Ferns said: “I wasn’t driving the vehicle. I had nowhere to live. I might have started the vehicle, I can’t remember. It was stupid of me to do it. I have to accept the consequences.”
Magistrates fined Ferns £198 and ordered him to pay £50 compensation to Staffordshire Police, £135 costs and a £79 surcharge. He was given 10 penalty points so he is not disqualified.