NAMED & SHAMED: Drink drivers in court in Weymouth and Poole after Dorset Police Christmas campaign

Although enforcement against drink drivers goes on throughout the year, the force runs a campaign in December to focus on those over the limit in the party season.

Officers encourage those out enjoying a drink during the festive period to plan how to get home without driving – and motorists are reminded of the potential consequences of driving while under the influence and the continuing effects that alcohol and drugs can have the morning after.

As with previous years, the names of those charged with offences were passed to the media.

Launch of the drink drive campaign at Christmas 2017

Cases have now concluded in the magistrates court and local people who drove over the limit are featured here.

Some outstanding cases are still going through the courts with trials lined up for later in the year.

Dorset Police carried out more than 400 breath tests between December 1 and January 1.

A total 53 people were charged with drink-driving offences across the county.

PC Heidi Moxam, of the traffic unit, said: “Too many people who are otherwise law-abiding citizens, fail to consider the untold devastation that drink and drug driving can cause.”

She added: “I have been the person knocking on the door to inform relatives that their loved one has been killed as a result of a motorist who thinks it is okay to get behind the wheel while under the influence.

“This is something that I do not want to do during the festive period, or any other time of year.

“I would like to thank those members of the public who called us to report a drink driver. Our enforcement efforts will of course continue all year round and intelligence from the public is invaluable in keeping Dorset’s roads safe.”

A spokesman for road safety charity Brake said: “Drink-driving remains one of the biggest killers on our roads, causing devastation to families and communities every day.

“Consuming any amount of alcohol before getting behind the wheel can lead to lethal consequences, and Brake welcomes this Christmas drink-drive crackdown from Dorset Police.

“We urge the government to keep investing in road policing, and treat it as a priority – it saves lives.”

We urge the government to keep investing in road policing, and treat it as a priority - it saves lives.”

Benedict Smith

A CAR driven by a young man who had been drinking ended up on its side in a dramatic crash.

The collision involving a Renault Clio occurred on the B3157 coast road near Burton Bradstock in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

The incident led to Benedict Edmund Farnan Smith, aged 18, of Coneygar Park, Bridport, pleading guilty at Weymouth Magistrates Court to driving when his alcohol level was above the limit.

The court heard that at around 5am on New Year’s Day, Smith was involved in a collision on Burton Road when the car he was driving ended up on its side.

In a statement Smith, who was reportedly driving friends home, said he hit cats eye lights on the road when he felt his car begin to turn.

As Smith was trying to control the car, it ended up rolling onto its side, magistrates were told.

In the Dorset Echo report of the collision, it was stated the driver was unhurt but extensive damage was caused to the car.

Smith said he had one drink of rum and coke after finishing a shift at work at 1.30am.

Police attended the incident and Smith was taken to Weymouth Police Station, where a test showed he had 42 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms in 100ml.

Smith, who was not represented, wrote a letter of mitigation to the court which was not read out. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Smith was fined £150 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30.

Luke Harrison

A TEENAGE drink driver who righted his car after it overturned in a crash was then involved in a second collision.

Luke Joseph Harrison, 18, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle when his alcohol level was above the limit when he appeared at Weymouth Magistrates Court. The court heard that on December 23 last year, Harrison was involved in a collision at around 1am on a road near Shaftesbury when his car ended up on its roof.

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, said Harrison managed to get the car back on its wheels and carried on driving – when he later skidded off into a hedge.

This happened on the A350 at Littledown, just north of Shaftesbury.

A member of the public saw the second crash and held him at the side of the road until police officers arrived.

A roadside test showed Harrison had 65 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, nearly twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

The court heard that in a statement from the night of the incident, Harrison said he thought he was in Blandford and had spent two hours trying to get home to Wimborne. He also claimed that he had only had one pint and that his “parents would kill him” for crashing their car.

Harrison, of Victoria Road, Wimborne, who was not represented in court, admitted he had ‘had a few drinks’ with his friends after Christmas shopping, and ‘really regrets’ driving while over the limit.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Steven Grange

A DRINK driver who got behind the wheel when he was nearly twice the legal limit has been banned from driving.

Steven Anthony Grange, aged 30, of Queens Road, Portland, was disqualified from driving for 17 months after pleading guilty to driving a vehicle when his alcohol level was above the limit.

Weymouth magistrates heard that on December 15 last year, police stopped Grange on Wide Street in Portland when he drove onto the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic and in front of a marked police car.

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, said when police approached Grange he smelt of alcohol and the defendant told an officer: “I’m over the limit, mate.”

A roadside test showed that he had 66 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath – almost twice the legal limit, which is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Max Owen, mitigating, said Grange and his partner were both ‘in drink’ when they got into a serious argument at his parents’ house and, wanting to sort the matter at home, Grange got behind the wheel.

“He realises it was a very foolish decision on his part,” Mr Owen said.

Chairman of the bench, Sir William Gibbons, said he admired Grange’s honesty but reminded the defendant of the seriousness of the offence.

Grange was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs.

Rimvydas Mackela

A DRINK-driver who was almost twice the legal limit 24 hours after a staff Christmas party has been handed a driving ban.

Rimvydas Mackela, aged 27, of Fishweir Fields in Bridport, was disqualified from driving for 14 months at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to driving a vehicle when his alcohol level was above the limit.

The court heard that Mackela was stopped in a Audi A4 on Fishweir Fields on December 16 last year after police saw him driving “erratically” and in excess of the speed limit around nearby streets in Bridport just before 11pm at night.

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, said once stopped by police, Mackela claimed he had not had a drink since the night before at a staff party.

A roadside test showed that he had 64 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, almost twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

Mitigating, Max Owen said: “He was at a party where alcohol was free in unlimited quantities.

“He thought he was okay as he hadn’t drunk anything since 11pm or so the night before.

“He has a responsible job in Somerset.

“If he is disqualified from driving he is going to have to give up his job.”

As well as the driving ban, Mackela was fined £335 and ordered to pay £85 costs.

Dominic Macdonald

ALSO convicted as part of the drink drive campaign was Dominic Christopher Macdonald, aged 26, of Market Street, Weymouth.

He appeared at Poole Magistrates Court where he admitted drink driving in Christchurch Road, West Parley, near Bournemouth, on Christmas Day, 2017, with a reading of 87 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml breath.

The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

He also admitted taking a Yamaha motorcycle without the owner’s consent in Ferndown, driving without an appropriate licence, without insurance, and possession of cannabis, on the same date.

He was given a one year community order with supervision by a rehabilitation officer.

He was fined £300, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Macdonald was banned from driving for 36 months.

Jean Pierre Nzante

ALSO convicted following the Christmas campaign was Jean Pierre Nzante, aged 31, of Church Street, Beaminster.

He pleaded guilty at Poole Magistrates Court to driving while over the legal limit for alcohol on the A31 at Ameysford roundabout near Ferndown, east Dorset on New Year’s Day, 2018. A breath test revealed he had 60 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml breath.

He was fined £400 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £40 victim surcharge.

He was banned from driving for 17 months.