A MOTORIST was only just over the legal drink drive limit despite colliding with an island in the middle of a Powys town late at night.
Ethan Hughes, aged 25, crashed his white Toyota Aygo into a traffic island on Spa Road in Llandrindod Wells during the early hours of Saturday, February 24, causing significant damage.
The incident happened just outside the Commodore Hotel, whose CCTV footage caught the incident on camera and which was subsequently circulated on social media.
Warehouse assistant Hughes, of Wellington Road, Llandrindod Wells, admitted drink driving when appearing at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, March 13.
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“It was 12.50am when police received a call regarding a single vehicle road traffic collision,” prosecutor James Sprunks said.
“Police saw a white Toyota Aygo which appeared to have collided with the dividing island on a road. There was significant damage to the car.
“There was no-one at the scene but the police found that the vehicle was registered to the defendant. He was conveyed to hospital and then taken to Newtown Police Station.”
Mr Sprunks said Hughes had no previous convictions.
Hughes was just over the legal limit, providing a reading of 40 micrograms of alcohol in his breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms.
Acting for the defendant, Geraint Parry said his client was extremely remorseful.
“It’s clearly a serious matter and he accepts the prosecution’s version of events,” Mr Parry said.
“There were no aggravating factors, apart from causing an accident and the damage [to the island].
“He is embarrassed and regrets his actions. There was not as much traffic about and he drove a very short distance, a few hundred metres.
“He is employed as a warehouse assistant at Marches Ironmongery. His girlfriend lives in Hereford and he uses his car to visit her.
“He worries about a ban impacting on his mental health as he and his girlfriend rely heavily on each other.”
Mr Parry handed in character references on behalf of Hughes.
Magistrates banned Hughes from driving for 12 months; he can reduce the ban by completing a rehabilitation course.
He was fined £246 and must pay a £98 surcharge and £85 costs.
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