News Boozy ride means ban for serving soldier
A highly-regarded soldier has been given a 16-month motoring ban for drink-driving.
Lance Corporal Matthew Lindon (24), who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was caught driving his W-registered Seat Leon on Swinefleet Road, Old Goole, on May 14.
Mr Lindon, of Orchard Grange in Crowle, was followed by police after they spotted him swerving across the middle of the road at about 1.15am.
The solider - whose motoring infringement has prevented him getting a promotion in the army - was stopped and given a roadside breath test, whose lower reading was 62mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.
Shaun Pinchbeck, defending, said Mr Lindon had been out drinking with an old army pal in Goole and the emotion of the occasion made him drink more than he should have.
Mr Lindon, who is based at Catterick, drove Land Rovers in the army and was due for a promotion this year.
But Mr Pinchbeck said Mr Lindon could now not hope to be promoted for at least another two years because of the motoring offence.
He added that Mr Lindon was a "hard-working, law-abiding family man" who had a seven-month-old baby and a fiancee.
He said his actions on the day he was drink-driving were "totally out of character".
Mr Pinchbeck said Mr Lindon had not seen his army friend since they had served in Afghanistan together.
"He said it was quite emotional for both of them and he accepts that he drank more than he intended to do," said Mr Pinchbeck.
He added that he "couldn't have been thinking straight" when he drove from Goole back to his home in Crowle.
Mr Pinchbeck said that, as well as losing out on promotion, Mr Lindon faced having to sell his house and move back into army barracks, which will mean he will be allowed to see his son and fiancee only at weekends.
Mr Pinchbeck said this would be another hammer blow to Mr Lindon, who missed the first six months of his baby son's life while serving in Afghanistan.
However, magistrates imposed the ban and fined Mr Lindon £200. They also ordered him to pay £43 prosecution costs and a Government surcharge of £15.
Magistrates offered Mr Lindon a drink-drive reform course which, if accepted, will reduce his ban by four months.
Published on 5th June 2008 in News.
Add to: Digg | del.icio.us | Reddit
Comments
There are currently no comments
Comments are closed for this article.