A motorist caught drink-driving for the third time after a collision in darkness on a rural road told a district judge who imposed a ban: “I deserve it. I’m sorry.”
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard an incident involving two vehicles was reported to have occurred at around 6-20pm on 17th February.
This had occurred on an unclassified road in the Wigton area between the A595 and the B5305.
A Mercedes driver reported that he had been heading home along a narrow lane when he saw the headlights of an approaching vehicle. This was a Ford Focus being driven by 33-year-old Lewis Cooke.
“I expected it to slow down but it didn’t,” said the Mercedes driver, who spoke of pulled his vehicle to the near side. “All of a sudden I felt the impact as his vehicle collided with the rear offside of my car. I remember the car jolted and the airbags deployed.”
The man said he felt leg pain and noticed dashboard warning lights flashing.
Police attended the scene and identified Cooke as the Focus driver. “He was noted to be unsteady on his feet and slurring his speech,” said prosecutor George Shelley. “When asked if he had consumed alcohol, he confirmed that he had and would fail (a test).”
After a testing device ran out of battery, Cooke was taken initially to Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary for checks. Mr Shelley said Cooke failed a breath test in hospital, was arrested and submitted two evidential readings at a police station. The lower of these showed 90 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal driving limit is 35mcg.
Cooke, of Greystoke Park Road, Penrith, admitted drink-driving. The court heard he had two previous convictions for driving with excess alcohol, dating back to 2010 and 2015.
During his sentencing hearing, Cooke told district judge Philip Holden that he did not believe he had a problem with alcohol.
“I would like you to take into consideration it was an all-time low at that stage,” said Cooke, describing personal circumstances at the time. “I have driven for a long time and not drunk and drove. I am an OK driver. What I did that day was wrong.”
District judge Holden imposed a 12-month community order. Cooke must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and was given an 18-month driving disqualification.
“I deserve it. I’m sorry,” said Cooke as his punishment was announced.
He was offered a place on a rehabilitation course. If completed successfully, this will reduce the ban length by 18 weeks.
Cooke must also pay a mandatory £114 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
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