A 65-year-old businessman who had only recently got his licence back after a drink-drive conviction was more than twice over the alcohol limit when he crashed his Aston Martin Vantage into cars on the A37 last week.
Drink and drug driving is being targeted over the festive season | Photo © Avon & Somerset Police
Gordon Clements appeared in custody at Bath Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 11th February to admit he’d been at the wheel while drunk on Monday 9th February.
Prosecutor Maree Doyle told the court that Clements had been on Upper Bristol Road heading towards Pensford when he collided with two or three vehicles waiting at a red light. He didn’t stop but carried on, driving erratically and swerving all over the road.
A member of the public called 999 and when police arrived, Clements claimed a lorry had hit his vehicle and that he had collided with some trees.
Police suspected Clements was intoxicated and he was arrested. At Keynsham Custody Centre, the lower of two readings was 87 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
The court heard that Clements, of Hallam Close in Midsomer Norton, had only recently got his licence back after completing a drink-drive rehabilitation course, which had reduced the length of his disqualification.
Solicitor Robyn Rowland, on behalf of Clements, said he should not have got in his car that day as he was a risk to other road users: “He probably did not realise quite how inebriated he was.”
Mr Rowland said that although there were “aggravating features”, Clements had not been charged with anything other than drink-driving, and the 24 hours he had spent in custody had been “chastising”.
Mr Rowland said Clements had indicated that when he is entitled to get his licence back again, it’s unlikely he will reapply for it as during the last disqualification, he used the bus to get to work in Bristol where he runs a rope business employing five people.
Magistrates banned Clements from driving for 46 months. They did not offer him the chance of doing another rehabilitation course.
He was fined £384 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £154 court surcharge.
