Drink driver caught following catch-up with friends at pub

Jonathan Woodley, aged 53, was behind the wheel of a Ford Focus driving to the address of his estranged wife in Wilson Road, Dorchester on Sunday, June 20.

Police officers investigating a tip-off from a concerned member of the public attended the address and breathalysed him after he claimed he had just drunk some beer indoors.

Prosecuting, Richard Oakley, told Weymouth Magistrates’ Court how Woodley answered the door at the address.

He said: “At about 6.20pm on June 20, police received information that the defendant was believed to have driven whilst drunk to an address in Dorchester.

Mr Woodley was found at an address in Dorchester. Picture: Google

“Officers arrived outside the address. The vehicle they were referred to was parked outside.

“Officers knocked on the door and the defendant answered. He was asked to provide a breath specimen.

“He said he told them he had a drink of beer when he got home. He was clearly under the influence of alcohol.

“He completed the roadside test and failed it. As a result, he was arrested and taken to Weymouth police station.”

Woodley gave a reading of 81 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

During police interview, Woodley admitted he was living with his mother in Wool after he separated from his wife.

Mr Oakley said: “He had become separated from his wife and he had hit the drink as an escape.

Weymouth Magistrates' Court

“He admitted drinking in Wool with friends at a pub. He had driven to the house in Dorchester.

“He initially has claimed to have drank beer inside, but his wife made a statement which indicated that he hadn’t. He accepted he was drunk whilst driving.”

Woodley, of East Burton Road in Wool, pleaded guilty to drink driving at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court.

Mitigating, Ian Brazier, explained that Woodley had driven to Dorchester following a catch-up with friends at a pub in Wool as Covid-19 restrictions were eased. He said Woodley was ‘just relaxing and letting off some stream’ with friends.

Due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Woodley had lost his role selling cars at a local dealership.

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He said: “He is a gentlemen that has worked for many years in the car industry.

“He was furloughed and made redundant during the pandemic.

“He knows that the guilty plea and the imminent ban will make it much harder for him to get a new job as it is a competitive industry and car sales have dropped off.

“He is having to think outside of the box.”

Mr Brazier noted that money is ‘limited’ at the moment and Woodley is currently on income support.

He added: “He accepts that during lockdown there had been some financial difficulty, he has taken to drink and had been drinking too much.

“I asked if he had an issue, and he has in fact made contact with Reach and exploring their support and it’s an ongoing process.”

Magistrates issued Woodley a 20-month driving ban, which can be reduced by 20 weeks if he completes a drink driving awareness course. Woodley was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, costs of £40 and £34 victim surcharge.