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From the Dover Express, 8 January 2015.
Drink driver’s 18-month ban.
DOVER: A man caught driving while nearly twice over the alcohol limit has
been banned from getting back behind the wheel for 18 months.
Andrew David Reet, 22, of Malborough Road, Dover, was driving a VW Lupo
when stopped by police after an incident in Clifton Crescent and Sandgate
Road, Folkestone, on November 21.
He gave a breath test of 64 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of
breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
During a hearing at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on December 8, Reet
pleaded guilty to drink-driving
Magistrates disqualified Reet from driving for 18 months and fined him
£161. He must also pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 22 January 2015. By Victoria Chessum.
Shop owners pay price for selling booze out of hours.
Londis, in Market Square, Dover, has had its alcohol licence suspended for a month
after serving booze to drunk customers outside of permitted hours.
The suspension began last Friday following a review hearing on the
convenience store called by Kent Police, supported by Dover Town Council.
When the licence suspension stops, the store will be able to sell alcohol
from 9am instead of 6am.
In June last year a licensing officer investigated an incident where a
heavily intoxicated man was served alcohol by Londis after the police had
just taken drink from him in an alcohol control zone.
Londis was issued with a penalty notice for disorder.
Then in August Londis was found to be serving alcohol before its licence
hour of 6am but as this breach was only a matter of minutes, the store was
issued with a warning.
In November a licensing officer was told of a further sale before 6am and
an investigation found
two breaches on two consecutive days.
As a result of these and the previous warning, the license was reviewed.
A Kent Police spokesman said: “This review was supported by
the town council. The committee heard all the evidence and among other
conditions, imposed a one month suspension and moved their sale of alcohol
time from the existing 6am to 9am. There is a right to appeal so until
that
point the premises can continue to sell alcohol from 6am.”
Town Mayor Pam Brivio, who spoke for Dover Town Council at the hearing,
said: “We are delighted that the statutory authorities are finally
listening
to the people of Dover and acting to reduce the incidence of alcohol
fuelled anti-social behaviour and social problems in the town.
“The town council has been asking DDC for two years to manage the
availability of off-licence sales more responsibly and we are pleased that
the police have finally produced evidence to support our calls for
action.”
The licensing committee was comprised of councillors Bill Gardiner,
Bernard Butcher and Pip Russell.
It was discussed again on Monday at a town council planning meeting where
full support was reinstated by the councillors.
The item on the meeting’s agenda shows that the store has re-applied for
its licence from 6am to midnight, seven days a week with “some seasonal
variations”.
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From the Dover Mercury, 29 January, 2015.
Drink-driver’s three-year road ban.
A Dover man has been disqualified from driving for three years after
exceeding the legal
alcohol limit on New Year’s Day.
Patrick Belsey, 27, of London Road, drove a BMW 320, and when stopped in
Buckland
Avenue gave a breath test of 112 microgrammes of alcohol in 100
millilitres of breath. The
legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
A Folkestone magistrate imposed the driving ban on January 14 and fined
him £500.
He also had to pay £85 court costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
Disqualification can be
reduced by nine months if, by February 13, 2017, he satisfactorily
completes a
government-approved drink-drive rehabilitation course, the cost of which
will not exceed
£250.
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From the Dover Mercury, 5 February 2015. By Victoria Chessum.
Shop has time to appeal against alcohol sale ban.
A month’s alcohol suspension for Londis in Market Square will not be
enforced for another two weeks, giving the store the opportunity to
appeal.
A review hearing on the shop was called by the police, supported by Dover
Town Council, after a series of breaches.
In June last year a licensing officer investigated an incident where a
heavily intoxicated man was served alcohol by Londis staff after the
police had just taken drink from him in an alcohol control zone.
Londis was issued with a penalty notice for disorder.
Then in August Londis was found to be serving alcohol before its licence
hour of 6am but, as this breach was only a matter of minutes, the store
was issued with a warning.
In November a licensing officer was told of a further sale before 6am and
an investigation found two breaches on two consecutive days.
A social media comment suggested that the shop was serving wine to
residents despite its temporary ban but the Dover district
licensing officer, Steve Alexander, said this was allowed.
He told the Mercury: “If they are to make an appeal, it must be lodged by
February 17.
“If they don’t lodge an appeal the conditions will apply, they have to
have their licence gone for a month.” When the month is
up, it will have to serve alcohol from 9am, instead of 6am.
If an appeal is lodged, the original conditions will still be in place
until a hearing at a magistrates’ court.
The licensing officer told the Mercury that, to date, an appeal had not
been received.
It is believed that Londis has applied to move its premises next door, as
its present shop will need to be demolished to make way for the St James’
development.
When the new shop is open, the shop will need to apply for a new licence.
Londis, in Market Square, Dover, can appeal against its alcohol licence
being suspended.
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From the Dover Mercury, 12 February, 2015.
Drink-drive lorry penalty.
A man trying to turn his lorry around on the Prince of Wales Pier was
arrested on
suspicion of drink-driving after the Port of Dover Police intervened.
Attilas Kovacs, 48, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to driving while
above the legal
alcohol limit, and to driving a vehicle above the legal weight limit.
U-turn.
He appeared before Medway magistrates on Monday last week. He was fined
£400 and
banned from driving for 28 months.
The Hungarian driver had driven his truck on to the pier, and when
realising his mistake,
tried to make a U-turn on Saturday, January 31.
He scraped the HGV against a lamppost and smacked it against the wall.
Police breathalysed him and found that he was over the drink-driving
limit.
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From the Dover Mercury, 5 February, 2015.
Driving ban.
A 27-year-old man from Dover has been banned from driving after he was
caught over the
drink-drive limit.
Patrick Belsey, of London Road, was driving a BMW 320 on January 1 when he
was
stopped by officers in Buckland Avenue.
He gave a breath test of 112 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millimetres of
breath. The
legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
He appeared at Channel Magistrates’ Court, Folkestone, on January 14 where
he pleaded
guilty to drink driving. Magistrates fined him £500 and banned him from
driving for three
years. He must also pay £85 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 23 April, 2015.
Driver banned.
A drink-driver from Dover has been disqualified for more than two years.
Piotr Tyborczyk, 48, of Victoria Park, drove a Seat Toledo in Bench
Street, Dover, on July
19 last year. When he was stopped he gave a breath test of 108 micrograms
of alcohol in
100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
He appeared at Thanet Magistrates' Court on March 31 where he pleaded not
guilty.
He was convicted, banned for 26 months and ordered to pay £620 in costs
and a £60
victim surcharge.
Disqualification can be reduced by 198 days if, he completes a drink-drive
rehabilitation
course.
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From the Dover Express, 28 May 2015.
By Phil Hayes.
Special Brew and wine seized from smugglers.
Three lorries found laden with 68,000 litres of illicit booze at port.
MORE than 67,000 litres of beer and 1,000 litres of wine were seized in an
overnight smuggling crackdown at the Port of Dover.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers worked with Border Force and the
French Customs authorities to identify vehicles carrying non-duty-paid
alcohol from Calais to Dover.
The crackdown was launched last week in order to disrupt the illicit
supply of booze to the UK by organised criminal gangs.
Seized.
Pictures of Operation Salmanazar released by the HMRC show Special Brew,
Carlsberg Export, Carling and Blossom Hill red wine was seized.
In total, 67,317 litres of beer with a duty value of £61,932 was grabbed
by officers, as was 1,125 litres of wine with a duty value of £33,690.
Three lorries, which had been found carrying the illicit booze, were also
seized. The alcohol and vehicles will be disposed of using the normal
procedures.
Richard Las, HMRC’s criminal investigation deputy director, said: “Alcohol fraud costs taxpayers
£1.3 billion in lost revenue each year.
“It is not a victimless crime, it breeds criminality, as well as
undermining honest, legitimate traders.
“Anyone we catch during this operation can expect to feel the full force
of our powers, which can include seizure of their goods and vehicles,
financial penalties, arrest and potentially a criminal record.
“We work closely with other partner agencies to help us identify, target
and disrupt these organised criminal gangs smuggling alcohol into the
country.”
Paul Morgan, Border Force regional director, said: “Border Force plays a
key part in international efforts to tackle the global illicit trade in
alcohol, working closely with HMRC and other agencies both in the UK and
overseas.
“Border Force officers carry out intelligence-led anti-smuggling checks
supported by the use of high-tech equipment to detect alcohol that
smugglers attempt to bring into the country.
“Vast amounts of alcohol are seized at the border every month but this is
just one part of a complex picture."
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From the Dover Mercury, 4 June, 2015.
Drink-driver banned.
A 27-year-old from Dover has been banned from getting behind the wheel
after admitting
drink-driving.
Daniel Blackwell was sentenced on Tuesday, May 26, at Canterbury
Magistrates’ Court.
Blackwell, of London Road, Dover, drove a BMW on the M20 coastbound near
Folkestone
on January 16 and gave a blood test of 125 milligrammes of alcohol in 100
millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 35 milligrammes.
He was also fined £110 and must pay £200 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Disqualification can be reduced by 274 days if, by June 2017, he completes
a
government-approved drink drive rehabilitation course.
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From the Dover Mercury, 11, June, 2015.
Driver banned after failing breath test.
A Dover man has been disqualified from driving for 20 months after
admitting drinking while behind the wheel.
Scott Slaney, 32, of Barley Close in Martin Mill, drove a Ford Focus in
Deal’s London Road
on Sunday, May 17.
He gave a breath test of 61 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of
breath. The legal
limit is 35.
Magistrates disqualified Slaney from driving on Thursday, May 28 and fined
him £110.
He must also pay a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £20 victim
surcharge.
Disqualification can be reduced by 153 days if, by June 26 next year, he
completes a
government-approved drink-drive rehabilitation course, the cost of which
will not exceed
£250.
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From the Dover Mercury, 11 June, 2015.
Driver three times the limit.
A driver from St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe who was three times the alcohol
limit has been banned for 45 months.
Daniel McLennan, 31, of Seymour Road, was caught driving a Nissan Navara
at the service
station in Dover Road, Walmer and gave a breath test of 108 micrograms of
alcohol in 100
millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
He pleaded guilty at Channel Magistrates’ Court in Folkestone on
Wednesday, May 27.
McLennan was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the
next year.
He must also pay a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £60 victim
surcharge.
The disqualification can be reduced by 344 days if he completes a
government-approved
drink drive rehabilitation course.
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From the Dover Express, 11 June 2015.
Police stopped drink driver.
DOVER: A BMW driver who drank too much booze was stopped by police as he
headed towards Dover on the M20.
Daniel Roy Blackwell, 27, of London Road, Dover, had 125 milligrammes of
alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood on January 16. The legal limit is 80
milligrammes.
Blackwell pleaded guilty at Canterbury and St Augustine Magistrates Court
on May 26 to drink driving.
He was disqualified from driving for 36 months and fined £110. He must
also pay £200 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Four-year ban.
DOVER: A man who was three times the drink-drive limit has been banned for
nearly four years.
Daniel James McLennan, 31, of Seymour Road, Dover, was handed a 45-month
ban, ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, and pay £85 costs and
a £60 victim surcharge.
The Nissan Nivara driver pleaded guilty at Folkestone Magistrates Court on
May 27 to drink driving after he was caught intoxicated at a service
station in Dover Road, Deal.
McLennan gave a breath test of 108 micrograms of alcohol in 100
millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
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From the Dover Mercury, 18 June 2015.
Alcohol seized in crime crackdown.
The seizure of60,000 litres of beer at the Port of Dover last month was
part of a nationwide crackdown on organised crime.
Briefings were delivered by specialist counter terrorism officers
alongside officers from Border Force, the National Crime Agency and HMRC. Port staff were advised on spotting suspicious behaviour. An added 8,000 litres of wine, with an overall potential value of £75,000
in lost excise duty, was confiscated at Dover’s Eastern Docks from three
lorries. Customs officers worked with Border Force and the French customs
authorities to identify vehicles carrying non-duty-paid alcohol from
Calais to Dover. The Port of London, St Pancras International, Heathrow,
London City and Biggin Hill airports were all under surveillance. Operations were carried out targeting the illegal passage of cash,
weapons, drugs, goods and people linked to criminal or terrorist-related
activity. National police lead for counter terrorism, assistant commissioner Mark
Rowley said: “Everyone has a role to play in defeating terrorism and those
working at ports and involved in ports and travel industries can play an
important part. “With the increased threat of terrorism, this week of activity has shown
that the UK’s law enforcement agencies are working closer than ever as we
approach summer, traditionally the busiest period of the year for our
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From the Dover Express, 18 June 2015.
Drink-driver disqualified.
MARTIN MILL: A man was sentenced at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to drink
driving.
Scott Slaney, of Barley Close, Martin Mill, drove a Ford Focus in London
Road, Deal, on May 17 and gave a breath test of 61 microgrammes of alcohol
in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
On May 28, magistrates disqualified the 32-year-old from driving for 20
months and fined him £110. He must also pay a £150 criminal courts charge,
£85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 25 June, 2015.
Drink-driver ignored red.
Vojtech Hudi, 34, of Folkestone Road, Dover, has been banned from getting
behind the wheel after admitting drink-driving.
Twice over the legal limit to drive, he also failed to stop at a red light
while driving his
Vauxhall Insignia on Maison Dieu Road, Dover.
He gave a breath test of 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of
breath - the legal
limit is 35.
He was disqualified from driving for 21 months and must pay a £400 fine, a
courts charge
of £150, costs of £85 and a £40 victim surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury 25 June 2015.
Drink-driver ignored red.
Vojtech Hudi, 34, of Folkestone Road, Dover, has been banned from getting
behind the wheel after admitting drink-driving.
Twice over the legal limit to drive, he also failed to stop at a red light
while driving his Vauxhall Insignia on Maison Dieu Road, Dover.
He gave a breath test of 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of
breath - the legal limit is 35.
He was disqualified from driving for 21 months and must pay a £400 fine, a
courts charge of £150, costs of £85 and a £40 victim surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 25 June, 2015.
Drink-driver found with cannabis.
A drink driver caught in possession of drugs has been spared prison.
Daniel McGuire, 34, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 24
months, at
Channel Magistrates’ Court, Folkestone.
He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and not guilty to drink driving
in Clarkes Close,
Deal, in June 2014, but was convicted of the offence by magistrates.
When stopped by police he gave a breath test of 120 micro-grammes of
alcohol in 100
millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. He was also
found in possession
of cannabis.
He was also disqualified from driving for 36 months, ordered to carry out
120 hours of
unpaid work in the next 12 months, ordered to complete an alcohol
treatment programme and must pay costs of £620 and an £80 victim
surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 9 July, 2015.
Banned for refusing breath test.
A man who failed to provide a breath test has been banned from driving for
24 months.
Gary Yates, 46, of Stone-hall Road in Dover refused to do so in Ashford on
Sunday,
February 8.
On June 29, St Augustine Magistrates’ Court gave Yates a four-month curfew
to remain at
an address in Canterbury between 9pm and 7am Mondays to Saturdays until
October 28.
He must also pay £300 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Disqualification can be reduced by 182 days if, by October 27 2016, he
completes a course
approved by the Secretary of State.
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From the East Kent Mercury, 23 July 2015.
Real ale drinkers help fund project.
THE grateful Western Heights Preservation Society (WHPS) received a
donation from the Dover branch of the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA).
A cheque for £500 was handed over at the "Rack of Ale" micro pub last
Saturday.
Each year the local branch CAMRA makes a donation to a local charitable
cause and WHPS were "delighted" they had been chosen.
WHPS volunteer Phil Eyden said: "We were really pleased that we have been
acknowledged by the real ale drinking community.
"The money could not have come at a more opportune moment as we have the
ideal project to spend the money on.
"The money will be put towards a project to reconstruct the front of a
demolished barrack block at the Drop Redoubt.
"With our current finances we will never be able to rebuild one so we have
come up with the next best thing, a canvas screen to be suspended in front
of a barrack so the public will have a much clearer understanding of how
the fort appeared.
"The project will not be cheap, but CAMRA's donation will be a substantial
contribution towards the cost."
The next WHPS event is a free evening from 6 to 9pm on August 1 with some
re-enactors and firing followed by nature-related activities, astronomers,
moth trapping and a bat walk.
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From the Dover Express, 23 July 2015.
Drink-drive ban.
DOVER: A man has been banned for 18 months after being caught
drink-driving.
Callum Luke Graham, 25, of Markland Road, Dover, pleaded guilty to the
offence at Folkestone Magistrates Court on July 16.
He drove a Ford Mondeo in Tower Hamlets Road, Dover, on July 1, and gave a
breath test of 62 micro grammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Graham must also pay a £400 fine, £85 costs and a £40 victim surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 23 July, 2015.
Drink-driver’s 18-month ban.
A drink-driver from Dover has been given an 18-month ban.
Callum Luke Graham, 25, of Markland Road, gave a breath test of 62
microgrammes of
alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath in Tower Hamlets Road, on July 1. The
legal limit is 35
microgrammes.
He appeared at Channel Magistrates’ Court, Folkestone on Thursday, July 16
where he
pleaded guilty. He was also ordered to pay a £400 fine, £85 costs and a
£40 victim
surcharge.
The ban can be reduced by 139 days if by next June, he completes a
rehabilitation course.
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From the Dover Express, 30 July 2015.
Sunshine smiles for charity fundraiser despite the soaking.
DESPITE grey skies looming, punters from local pubs gathered on the
seafront on Sunday morning for the Dover Lions' Annual Publicans Walk.
The walk has now taken place every year for the past 42 years.
Above photo showing BEST DRESSED: Roman Quay beach party.
Once again the thought and effort put into the fancy dress was fantastic
with some absolutely brilliant costumes to be seen.
With rain threatening to arrive at any time, the judging of the fancy
dress was carried out by Dover mayor Chris Precious and trophies very
quickly presented so that the walk could get under way.
Best Group Fancy Dress went to the "Roman Quay" with their Beach Party
theme; second was the "Old Endeavour" depicting the Second World War; and
third was the "Dew Drop" with their P&O theme.
Above photo showing Old Endeavour second world war theme.
Individual trophies went to Fonteyn Croker from the "Old Endeavour" who was
first as a WWII cafe girl; second was Tammy Page from the "Dewdrop"
as 'Hello Sailor'; and third was Tracey O'Hare from the "Roman Quay" as a
Beach Bunny.
With judging completed and trophies presented, right on cue the heavens
opened - but the hardy pub regulars vowed to carryon regardless.
Above photo showing Dewdrop P&O fancy dress.
Despite battling the wind and rain and getting absolutely soaked, they
continued to complete the five mile walk.
Support
Huge thanks are extended to all who attended for their support, and most
of all for not giving up despite the horrendous weather conditions.
Sponsorship monies raised from the walk are used to help fund a Christmas
lunch for senior citizens later in the year, which will be enjoyed
immensely by all who attend.
Dover Lions Club welcomes enquiries from anyone interested in joining the
club. Just call the secretary on 0845 833 9908 who will be happy to
provide further information.
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From the Dover Mercury, 13 August, 2015.
Drunken assaults cost man £1,000.
A 23-year-old has been ordered to pay over £1,000 after assaulting a man
and two police officers while drunk.
Brandon Tucker, 23, of Clarendon Place, Dover, was also ordered to carry
out 380 hours of
unpaid work in the next 12 months.
He admitted being drunk and disorderly in the car park of a supermarket in
Cheriton High
Street in Folkestone on September 25 last year.
He pleaded not guilty to common assault and assaulting a police officer
but was convicted
by magistrates.
He also pleaded guilty to a second common assault charge and being drunk
and
disorderly.
Tucker was sentenced at Channel Magistrates' Court in Folkestone. On
top of the unpaid work he must pay £350 compensation, £650 costs and a £60
victim surcharge.
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From the Dover Express, 13 August 2015.
Holiday chalets plan for pub.
WALDERSHARE: A former miners’ pub near Whitfield is set to become a
holiday mini-centre if a scheme is approved by planners.
Andrew Wedl, of Eastry, has revealed he has a scheme for 13 holiday
chalets in the large garden of the Cider Works public house and restaurant
at Waldershare. Mr Wedl’s planning application indicates the 13 “pods,”
scattered among the grass garden play area, would be timber built, some
with thatched roofs.
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From the Dover Mercury, 13 August, 2015.
Beer festival.
The Pharos Beer Festival will be held at Dover Grammar School for Boys
from Friday, August 21, to Sunday, August 23.
The Old Pharosians are now organising their second beer festival after
last year’s raised
more than £5,000 to help secure planning permission for the new sports
hall.
All the proceeds will go towards the Sports Hall Fund.
The three-day festival will offer 30 real ales, eight Kent ciders and
local wine.
It will be open on the Friday from 3pm to 11pm, Saturday noon to 11pm and
Sunday noon
to 5pm. Search Pharos Beer Festival 2015 on Facebook or visit
www.camra-dds.org.uk
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From the Dover Express, 20 August 2015.
Drink-driver is given road ban.
DEAL: A man caught behind the wheel while over the alcohol limit has been
banned from driving for 18 months.
Benjamin Fraser, 27, of Circular Road, Deal, was stopped by police in his
Vauxhall Corsa in Mongeham Road, Great Mongeham, on March 15.
He gave a blood test of 164 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of
blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrammes.
Fraser pleaded guilty at Folkestone Magistrates Court on August 10 to
drink driving.
Magistrates fined him £465 plus £85 costs and a £47 victim surcharge as
well as the ban.
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From the Dover Mercury, 10 September, 2015. Exclusive by Paul Hooper.
Drink-driver has licence revoked after collapsing.
A drink-driver who took his dad’s car without permission and led police on
a 100mph
chase through Dover collapsed in court.
Roger Bradbury, of Delane Road, Deal, had his licence revoked after
doctors diagnosed
epilepsy.
And as a judge was hearing the case On Friday, the 33-year-old slumped
sidewards in the dock at Canterbury Crown Court and fell to the ground.
As his girlfriend and court staff rushed to help, Judge James O’Mahony
adjourned the case
and asked for medical reports to be prepared.
After a 15-minute delay, Bradbury - who suffers up to nine seizures a day
- was led away
by family.
He had earlier admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous
driving, driving
at twice the legal alcohol limit and without insurance.
Prosecutor Donna East had told how Port of Dover police officer PC Francis
Cable spotted
Bradbury in Back Road West, Dover, standing near a Vauxhall Zafira talking
to a
hitchhiker.
She said the officer suspected Bradbury had been drinking and ordered him
to stay near
the vehicle while he was breathalysed.
“Instead, he got back inside the car and revved his engine before
performing a high-speed
U-turn, forcing the officer to jump out of the way,” she added.
The court heard how Bradbury then drove against the traffic at 35mph in a
20mph zone,
passing up to eight HGVs.
The car then went the wrong way around a roundabout onto Jubilee Way -
again on the
wrong side of the carriageway - reaching speeds of 50mph in a 30mph limit.
The judge then heard how along the northbound carriageway on the A2 he
topped 80mph
performing another dangerous manoeuvre around the Duke of
York roundabout.
Ms East said the Vauxhall was then clocked at 90mph with the driver
feigning to leave the
road on a number of exits before heading onto the A256 and reaching 100mph
towards
the Tilmanstone roundabout.
Bradbury then led a posse of police cars onto the A258 where the car
eventually came to a
halt when the engine blew and police later had to get it towed away.
The driver told police: “What’s going on? The car is my dad’s. He doesn’t
know I took it.”
Ms East said it was later discovered that Bradbury was not allowed a
licence because of
his medical condition.
As Judge O’Mahony was discussing with the driver’s lawyer Kerry Waitt
about the effects
of alcohol on someone suffering from epilepsy, Bradbury collapsed and the
case was
adjourned.
Before leaving the court, the driver was told that the judge had imposed
an interim
driving ban.
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From the Dover Mercury, 10 September, 2015. By Eleanor Perkins.
Pubs join forces to keep out the troublemakers.
Pubwatch members Trudi Adams, Richard Harris, Ben Winslade, Paul Blair,
Anna Murray and Chris Vidler with DPAC co-ordinator Karen Griffiths.
Four lifetime exclusion notices have been issued to anti-social people in
Deal since the relaunch of DPAC’s (Dover Partnership Against Crime)
Pubwatch scheme.
At the beginning of July the town’s pub and club owners decided to take
action against unacceptable behaviour from drunken revellers and united
under the scheme.
Using radios and social media, members, including The Lane, the Sir Norman
Wisdom, The Ocean Rooms and the Hole in the Roof, can now share
information and images of problem individuals and groups.
“It means if a person misbehaves in one venue and becomes excluded from
that premises, they are excluded from all members’ premises.
DPAC Co-ordinator Karen Griffiths said: “Deal pubs and clubs who are
members of DPAC are keen for their guests to have a really great evening
out at their venues without experiencing anti-social behaviour from a few
core people and they have sent a clear message.
“Since the relaunch of Pubwatch several warning letters have been sent out
by DPAC on behalf of their members and four lifetime exclusion notices
have been sent to those persons insisting on ruining it for others.
“These letters and notices appear to have already had the desired effect
and customers have agreed that their evenings spent in DPAC members’ pubs
and clubs have a much more pleasant experience.
“On the odd occasion the recipients of warning letters have actually
apologised to the venues and their behaviour has improved.
“Reports of drink-related antisocial social behaviour in surrounding
residential areas near to the town centres seems to have diminished too.”
It is hoped that other establishments will join in the successes of the
Deal Pubwatch. They should contact Karen Griffiths on 01304 218172.
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From the Dover Express, 17 September 2015.
Drink-driver gets road ban.
DEAL: A man who was more than double the drink driving limit has been
banned from getting back behind the wheel for 18 months.
Stewart Andrew Brown, 33, of Dover Road, Deal, was stopped in The Strand,
Walmer, on August 9. He gave a breath test of 88 microgrammes of alcohol
in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Magistrates banned him from driving for 18 months and ordered him to pay a
£350 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £35 victim
surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 24 September, 2015.
Drink Driver is punished.
A man received a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to
drink-driving without a licence.
Airidas Urboinavicius, 33, of no fixed address, drove a Rover 45 in
Dover's Victoria Park
with no insurance on August 9.
He gave a breath test of 134 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
The legal limit
is 35.
On September 11, he was sentenced by Canterbury magistrates to 18 weeks in
prison,
suspended for two years. He was banned from driving for three years and
must do 250
hours of unpaid work within 12 months, pay a £320 fine, £150 criminal
courts charge, £85
in court costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
The ban can be reduced by 273 days if he completes a course.
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From the Dover Express, 24 September 2015.
Exclusive by Joe Kasper
Don’t risk drink-driving, warns banned teenager.
Consequences of crash also included night in police cell and fines.
A TEENAGER caught drink driving a month after she turned 18 has sent out
this message to other young drivers: “It’s not worth even having one
drink”.
Maisie Ludwig crashed her police officer mum’s Seat Ibiza into a bus
shelter after drinking four cans of cider at her boyfriend’s house.
She had four friends with her on August Bank Holiday Sunday when she
decided to make the half-mile journey into Deal town centre.
Going along London Road at about 10pm, she hit a chicane and lost control
of the vehicle opposite Deal police station.
Such was the damage done to the car and a bus shelter, Maisie’s brother
saw the scene and thought his little sister had died.
But luckily no one was hurt.
Toilet.
The collision earned Maisie a night in a police cell, sleeping on a hard
mattress and having to use the toilet with anyone able to see her.
The former Sir Roger Manwood’s student said: “It was the worst experience
of my life. I don’t think I’m ever going to be there again.
“I asked to go to the toilet but they showed me this toilet in my cell
which had no lid and anyone could look into. You don’t know the time or
anything - I just spent the whole night crying.
“The bed was rock hard - it’s
plasticky. I just curled up into a ball and put the blanket over my head.
“It was a long, horrible wait every time they took me out of the cell, I
was just desperate to stay outside for as long as possible.”
Last Wednesday Maisie was disqualified from driving for a year and had to
pay fines totalling £305. But she also owes her parents more than £3,000
for the written-off car.
She said: “Going to court was horrible. I felt like I was a huge
criminal.”
Having passed the driving test in January, Maisie said she felt
“invincible”. She now wants to warn all other young drivers so that others
do not make the same mistake.
Maisie told the Express: “It’s not even worth having one drink. The
consequences are huge. You shouldn’t even risk it. I felt fine - I’m
driving but I’m not drunk. I never thought it would happen to me.
“Just get a taxi - it’s not worth anything. You feel like it’s never going
to happen to you, it’s not going to be your name in the paper. I regret it
so much.”
Maisie, who works as a waitress in Sandwich, will now have to get trains
and taxis to and from her Beach Street home when going to work.
She added: “Everything is such an inconvenience without a car.”
Her mum Louise, a Kent Police officer, said: “If one person reading this
is put off from drink-driving, it’ll be worth it.”
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From the Dover Mercury, 24 September, 2015.
Curfew and ban for driver.
A 40-year-old Dover woman has been banned from driving for three years.
Hayley Cloake, of Ash Grove, drove a Citroen C3 in Tye Wood Road, Dover,
on July 29. She
gave a breath test of 69 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of
breath. The legal limit
is 35.
On September 17, Channel Magistrates’ Court also gave her a three month
curfew to
remain at home between 9pm and 6am daily. It runs until Thursday, December
10.
She must also pay a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £60
victim surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 1 October, 2015.
Two-year drive ban.
A MOTORIST who drove after drinking more than twice the legal amount of
alcohol has been banned for two years.
Oliver Turner, of Mill Road, Deal, admitted drink-driving at Channel
Magistrates’ Court,
Folkestone, on September 21.
Turner, 25, was stopped by police in Blenheim Road, Deal, on September 5,
when he failed
a roadside breath test.
He had 91 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal
limit is 35.
Turner was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of community service, pay
£150 court charge, £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 5 November 2015.
Drink-driver handed a ban.
DOVER: A man caught more than twice the drink-drive alcohol limit has been
banned from getting back behind the wheel for 18 months.
Roshan Gurung, 21, of Anzio Crescent, drove a Volkswagen Golf on the A258
on October 13 and gave a breath test of 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100
millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Gurung pleaded guilty to the charge at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on
October 26.
Magistrates banned Gurung from driving for 18 months. He must also pay a
£200 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £20 victim
surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 5 November, 2015.
Drink-driver's 18-month ban.
A drink driver from Dover has been banned for 18 months by Channel
magistrates.
Jozef Dirda, 31, of Pencester Road, pleaded guilty to drink driving.
He was stopped in Folkestone Road, Dover, and gave a breath test of 66
microgrammes of
alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
He must pay a £200 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a
£20 victim
surcharge.
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From the Dover Express, 3 December 2015.
Drink-driver.
DOVER: A woman has been banned from the road after pleading guilty to
drink driving.
Mary Bonnage, 63, of Mill Lane, Dover, drove a Land Rover Defender on the
A2 on November 6, and gave a breath test of 94 microgrammes of alcohol in
100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
On November 23, Canterbury magistrates banned Bonnage from driving for two
years and ordered her to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work AND pay a £150
criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
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From the Dover Mercury, 5 December, 2015. by Victoria Chessum.
Sailor drank nine pints on night he vanished.
The body of George Spence was found wedged between rocks in Dover harbour
in April.
The circumstances surrounding the death of a sailor, whose body was
found washed up in Dover Harbour, remain a mystery.
Dover’s lifeboat and the coastguard conducted two dramatic searches for
George Spence, from Lowestoft in Suffolk, on Monday, April 27.
It was feared he had fallen overboard a ship moored in the Western Docks,
near the cruise terminal, but efforts to find him were dashed and the
mission was abandoned.
Six weeks later, a dog walker reported the sighting of a body wedged
between the rocks in the harbour.
It was that of the missing sailor.
The 61-year-old had come to Dover to work on a wreck salvage, but the boat
was temporarily held in the harbour because gale force winds had made it
too dangerous to sail.
Mr Spence was working on the ship with his step-son, Paul Hammond, and
five other crew.
Mr Hammond, who was the last person to see his step-father, said: “Because
the weather was so rough, we decided it would be a good idea to go to the
pub and relax after a long journey - we did that every night.”
He said on the night Mr Spence went missing, Sunday, April 26, there were
just three of the crew left in the pub.
They had left and Mr Spence was walking behind them, chatting to someone.
“I didn’t see him come down the steps,” said Mr Hammond.
“He was on the quayside and should have been right behind us. We waited
for him to get on but I assumed he had gone to the toilet, and with that I
thought nothing of it and fell asleep.”
The alarm was raised early the next morning, when the crew found a pair of
rig boots in the sea.
A report from Mr Spence’s GP said he had a history of alcoholism and had
made several attempts to stay sober.
He had managed to stay alcohol-free for six months before to his trip to
Dover, and celebrated his success by drinking in the pub, his step-son
said.
It was claimed the sailor had consumed at least nine pints on the night he
went missing.
Pathologist Kareem Aboualfa said the post mortem suggested there were no
signs of violence, but found 234ml of alcohol in his blood. But because
the procedure took place six weeks late, decomposition of the body led Mr
Aboualfa to believe the cause of death was emersion.
Det Sgt Stuart Ward, who investigated the case, said: “Checks were
completed of the CCTV cameras in the area where Mr Spence was last seen
talking to an unknown male, however, at this time the cameras were not
working.
“There were no suspicious circumstances or third party involvement.
“The sea would have been very cold in the Channel and was rough at the
time, so he could have drowned or it could have been hypothermia.”
Senior coroner Rachel Redman recorded an open verdict because she could
not be satisfied of the way in which Mr Spence entered the water.
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