Ponsanooth drink driver flipped car onto roof
7:00am Monday 15th October 2012 in News
By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer
A Ponsanooth drink driver who was three times over the legal limit turned his car onto its roof near to the busy A39, a court heard.
David Martin, of Pelean Cross, pleaded guilty to one charge of drink driving at Truro Magistrates' Court last week.
The 56-year-old had consumed three pints of lager and a half bottle of vodka before the accident at 6.30pm on September 16, prosecutor Gail Hawkley said.
“The vehicle [a Citroen Saxo] was on its roof about 100 metres from the A39 at Treluswell,” she said.
Martin was driving back from Restronguet along an unclassified road when he clipped the hedge and flipped the car, injuring his knee, she added.
Jeremy Leaning, for the defence, said Martin should be given credit for admitting to being the driver as it would have been difficult for the police to prove this otherwise, there being no witnesses.
He said: “That day he went to the pub, he had three pints then he went fishing and while he was fishing, he continued to drink.
“He's a single man who lives at home with his mother and while he works hard, it's fair to say in recent times he has been drinking hard as well.
“He knows he has to do something about it.”
Martin, who was convicted three years ago for a similar offence, was handed a 52-month driving ban alongside a 12 month community order to complete 200 hours unpaid work.
His ban could be cut by almost a year if he completes a drink drive rehabilitation course, however.
Chair of the magistrates, Gordon Ball, told Martin: “We consider you a high risk offender in regards to driving.
“You will have to satisfy the DVLA doctors that you are medically fit to drive before you can get your license back.”
