From the Folkestone Herald online, 12 September 2013.

NOT GUILTY PLEA TO DRINK-DRIVING

SANDGATE

A man who admits he was over the limit while behind the wheel has pleaded not guilty to drink-driving.

Patrick Rhoades, 47, of St. Paul's Way, Sandgate, was arrested by police on August 10.

He had driven an Audi A3 10ft across St. Pauls Court car park while "clearly drunk" after a "domestic incident", according to Niel Sweeney, prosecuting at Channel Magistrates Court

Representing himself in court last Thursday, Mr Rhoades admitted he had been over the limit. District Judge Justin Barron Simon said: “You accept you moved the car and are not disputing intoxication. The issue is whether the car park was a public place.”

Mr Rhoades was given unconditional bail and ordered to return to Channel Magistrates Court to stand trial on November 26.

From the Folkestone Herald online, 19 September 2013.

BANNED DRIVER DRUNK AT WHEEL
FOLKESTONE

A man who drove while over the legal alcohol limit and banned from getting behind the wheel has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Fernando Diniz, 65, of Court Approach, pleaded guilty to driving a Renault Megane without insurance, while he was disqualified from the road, and while drunk on May 6.

A test at the time showed he had 186 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, where the legal limit is 80.

On September 4, Channel magistrates sentenced him to 120 days in prison, suspended for 24 months, and disqualified him from driving for 60 months.

Diniz must also pay a £200 fine, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

From the Folkestone Herald online, 19 September 2013. By Amy Woodland

SHOPLIFTER JAILED FOR WINE THEFT

He hid bottles in trousers

AN ALCOHOLIC who tried to smuggle two bottles of wine out of a shop by hiding them in his trousers has been jailed.

Gerald O'Sullivan stood before magistrates last Wednesday charged with stealing wine from Murco garage in Seabrook and a copy of Kick magazine from Asda in Folkestone.

He pleaded guilty and also admitted breaching a supervision order, which formed part of his sentence for an earlier offence.

Identified

Prosecutor Neil Sweeney said: “On August 31, two bottles of wine were stolen from the Murco garage in Hythe. He places them down his trousers and leaves without paying. He was later identified on CCTV.

“On the matter of September 4, this was a Kick magazine belonging to Asda. It occurs, not in the store, but at the rear door where there was a box of magazines. He was followed to his home by a member of staff and the magazine was recovered unopened."

Defending, Debbie Pizzey said: “This is a man gripped with an addiction to alcohol, a problem he has had for ten years.”

She said O'Sullivan turned to drink after losing three family members and felt very isolated in Folkestone, having moved to the town in 2011.

Iain Chivers, Chairman of the bench at Folkestone Magistrates' Court, said: “It sounds an easy case but it isn't because we have had to take everything into account with your previous convictions.

“We feel there is no other way to deal with this than by custody,” He sentenced O'Sullivan to a total of 120 days in prison.

From the Folkestone Herald online, 10 October 2013.

DRINK-DRIVER IS HANDED A BAN

A motorist who had drunk more than three times the legal alcohol limit has been banned from the roads.

Matthew Chapman, 27, of Linksway, Folkestone, drove a Nissan Almera on August 25, and when stopped gave a breath test of 118 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 24 months and ordered him to carry out 150 hours' unpaid work within the next 12 months.

He must also pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Disqualification can be reduced by 184 days if, by 18 January 2015, he satisfactorily completes a course approved by the Secretary of State, the cost of which will not exceed £250.

From the Folkestone Herald online, 10 October 2013.

TEEN CHARGED FOLLOWING BRAWL

A boy has been charged with being drunk and disorderly after police broke up a brawl at Folkestone bus station on Saturday night.

The 16-year-old was arrested after officers responded to reports of a fight involving a group of young people. Reports on social media suggest that three police cars and an ambulance were in attendance.

Kent Police arrived at the Bouverie Square depot at about 11.20pm and arrested the Folkestone teenager.

He was released on bail and is due to appear at a youth court on November 5.