A DRINK driver from Warwick has avoided prison despite being four times over the legal limit.
Forty-six year old David Arnold, from Grassington Avenue, was arrested at 8.50pm on December 20 on Woodloes Avenue South and blew four times over the legal limit of 35 micrograms – having 141 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his breath.
A member of the public called police because they were concerned a driver they had seen may be drunk or unwell. Fortunately officers were in the immediate area and stopped Arnold who failed a roadside breath test.
After appearing in Leamington Magistrates Court, he was sentenced to eight week’s imprisonment, suspended for 12 months with a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was also disqualified from driving for 34 months and ordered to pay £135 costs and £154 victim surcharge.
The court considered the offence so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified because of the high alcohol reading and manner of the driving. However, the custodial sentence was suspended because he was considered of good character and there is a reasonable prospect of rehabilitation.
