Job on the line after driving ban

Published on 19th April 2007 in News

A young driver's decision to drive to a friend's house to talk about his ex-girlfriend while more than twice over the legal limit cost him his licence this week.

Alexander Suggitt (23), of Marsh End, Howden appeared in Goole Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to one charge of drink-driving.

Heather Levett, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court that Mr Suggitt was driving a Citroen Saxo when he was stopped by police at 12.50am on April 1 after they saw him swerve.

The officers noticed that the defendant smelt of alcohol, and a roadside test proved positive.

He was arrested and taken to the police station and tests showed that he had 92 mcg of alcohol in 100 mcg of breath. The legal limit for a driver is 35 mcg in 100 mcg of breath.

In Mr Suggitt's defence, the court heard that he had recently split up with his girlfriend and was upset about the break-up.

He had been talking about his former girlfriend and decided to drive to the friend's house to continue the discussion there.

It was claimed that Mr Suggitt had not swerved, as Ms Levett suggested, but had been driving carefully.

The court heard that he was of good character and would lose his job if he were banned.

Magistrates disqualified Mr Suggitt from driving for 24 months and fined him £180, taking into account his early guilty plea.

He was also ordered to pay £43 in court costs and £15 into the Victims' Compensation Fund