Coventry drink driver caught after A46 crash among those who thought they'd 'get away with it'

Five drink drivers who 'thought they would get away with it' have been named after being sentenced in court. Warwickshire Police has published the latest motorists who have been banned after being caught following incidents on roads across the county.

Officers say that all five been banned from driving for a total of 12 years and required to carry out a total of 200 hours unpaid work after being sentenced in court for drink driving related offences. Inspector Si Paull issued a warning to any other motorists contemplating getting behind the wheel while over the limit.

"These drivers thought they could get away with drinking and driving," Insp Paull said. "They were not just over the limit. In some cases they were 2 or 3 times over the limit and three drivers were involved in collisions putting themselves and other road users at risk.

"Sadly as an officer I see at first hand the devastation that collisions can cause to families and that’s why we are committed to catching drink and drug drivers like these and putting them before the courts as soon as possible so that their licences can be removed."

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Four of the drivers appeared at Leamington Spa Magistrates court on November 1. They were:

• Ion Virlan, aged 36 from Earl Street, Rugby who was sentenced to 60 hours of unpaid supervised work as part of a Community Order and banned from driving for 40 months for drink driving and driving without a licence. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge. He was arrested on Saturday, October 12 in Paynes Lane, Rugby when officers attended due to a call from the public. When they located the vehicle and stopped the driver, he failed a roadside breath test.

• Tests after 28 year old Lount Stefan Pasarica from Delany Avenue, Wellesbourne was arrested found he was almost three times over the legal limit after crashing his car up a grass verge, hitting a lamppost and getting the car stuck in a drain in Chestnut Square, Wellesbourne on October 12. He was sentenced to 80 hours unpaid work as part of a Community Order, banned from driving for 25 months for drink drinking, .and ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge.

• Thirty-six year old Kristopher Goodridge-Smith from Drake Street, Coventry was arrested on Friday, October 11 when he was involved in a two vehicle collision on the A46 near Stoneleigh. Tests later found he was over twice the legal drink driving limit. He was sentenced to a Community Order with a 30 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and disqualified from driving for 36 months after appearing in court charged with drink driving. He was also fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge.

• Connor O’Grady, aged 25 from Keith Road, Leamington Spa explained to officers who could smell alcohol on his breath that he’d had a couple of drinks when they stopped his car in Beauchamp Avenue, Leamington Spa. Tests after his arrest on October 17 found he was almost three times the legal limit. He was sentenced to 60 hours unpaid work as part of a Community Order and banned from driving for 24 months for drink driving. His ban can be reduced by 25 per cent if he satisfactorily completes an approved driver retraining course. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge.

At Cannock Magistrates Court on November 4, the judge heard how 56 year old Christopher Cooke from Torrent Close, Wilnecote, Tamworth was arrested just after midnight on Friday, October 11 at the Junction 10 M42 and A5 roundabout after the car he was driving collided with street furniture and a lorry.

When police arrived they found him hiding in the hedge. Officers said he smelt of alcohol but refused a breath test and was taken to hospital to be checked over as a precaution. He was sentenced to a Community Order with a 20 day supervised Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and banned from driving for 24 months for Failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

His ban can be reduced by 25 per cent if he satisfactorily completes an approved driver retraining course. He was also ordered to pay £200 costs and £114 victim surcharge.

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