Fines, CSOs and disqualifications for drink drivers

Wednesday 14 October 2020

Two men have been sentenced for drink driving, including one who drove into the Salerie Corner Car Park via the exit lane then sat in his car turning the headlights on and off.

Michael Vohmann, 25, and Stephen Spencer, 53, appeared before the Magistrate's Court for separate drink driving offences.

It was 20:30 on 14 September when Vohmann drove straight over the Halfway filter without slowing down for an oncoming vehicle, which had to brake sharply to avoid a collision. 

The driver of that vehicle decided to follow Vohmann while the person in the passenger seat called the police. The motorist said that Vohmann "started to swerve" approaching the traffic lights by Admiral Park before continuing down Salter Street and turning into the Salerie Corner car park. 

However, he missed the entrance lane and went down the exit lane instead before parking. He started walking towards Town, then walked back and sat in his car turning the headlights on and off.

Pictured: Vohmann missed the entrance lane when driving into the Salerie Corner car park. 

Police arrived and asked him for a breath test, however he was not "cooperative" to begin with. When tested at the station, he produced a lower reading of 105mcg per 100ml of breath. 

Vohmann accepted he had made a "silly" mistake. He has been to the Pony Inn that afternoon with his mates and estimated he had drunk eight pints before driving into Town. 

Advocate Sarah Brehaut offered minimal mitigation, after Judge Gary Perry interjected the opening of her speech to say he was planning to follow the recommendations of the pre-sentence report. 

"I give you credit for your guilty plea," the Judge told Vohmann. "Although I note that you weren't fully cooperative with the police and you need to think about how you interact with the police."

He took into account that Vohmann had no previous convictions and sentenced him to 120 hours of community service as a direct alternative to two months in prison. In addition, he disqualified him from driving for three years.

"That order is made because of the seriousness of the offence for which you have been convicted," Judge Perry told the defendant. 

Vohmann was followed into the Magistrate's Court by Stephen Spencer who was arrested on 8 September for hitting the pavement while driving along Rue Piette, Castel, and swerving over into the wrong side of the road while going around a corner. 

Pictured: Spencer failed a breath test and was arrested for drink driving. 

He produced a reading of 84mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. Advocate David Domaille said his client had no intention of driving that evening.

Due to illness there was no one else to do his milk round and he claimed he felt like he was under the limit, so decided to do it himself in an error of judgment. 

Advocate Domaille acknowledged that his client had a bad record for driving offences around the turn of the century and asked Judge Perry not to take too dim a view of that.

"I ask you to consider his fantastic work ethic in your sentencing today," he said. 

Judge Perry said Spencer's older and now spent driving offences were an aggravating factor. He disqualified Spencer from driving for three years, meaning the defendant will likely lose two of his jobs, and handed out a £900 fine as an alternative to 45 days in prison.