A 38-year-old Bath man who initially denied a charge of drink-driving but changed his plea has been disqualified from getting behind the wheel for 14 months.
Photo © Avon & Somerset Police
At what was originally scheduled to be a trial at Bath Magistrates’ Court on Monday 27th October, Haithem Rezgui, of Charlotte Street, pleaded guilty to driving in the city while over the alcohol limit.
The prosecutor told the court that in the early hours of 30th March, a motorist concerned about the way Rezgui’s car was being driven into Bath had alerted the police and followed him, keeping up a commentary with the call handler.
Rezgui was subsequently arrested by police near his home. He was found to have 51 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Rezgui had initially claimed he’d drunk wine in the park after getting out of his car, but changed his plea and admitted drink-driving.
The court heard that he had “made a mistake” which he is “very, very sorry for”.
Magistrates were presented with character references for Rezgui, a restaurant supervisor in Bristol who was of previous good character.
They disqualified him from driving for 14 months, but that will be reduced by 25% as he intends to do a drink-drive rehabilitation course.
He was fined £519 with a surcharge of £208 and ordered to pay £400 towards prosecution costs.
