A REDRUTH man who pleaded guilty to drink driving in Falmouth has been sentenced by a court in Cornwall. 

Damian Dell, aged 43, of Poldark Road on Paynters Lane in Redruth, appeared in front of magistrates at Truro Magistrates' Court on Thursday, November 23, 2023, on one count of driving a motor vehicle while above the legal alcohol limit. 

The offence took place on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, on Dracaena Avenue in Falmouth where Dell was found to be driving a motor vehicle after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath was 58 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. 

For reference, the legal alcohol limit in the UK is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

During his sentencing, Dell was disqualified from driving for a period of 16 months and fined £350. He was also made to pay a surcharge of £140 and pay costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The court also noted that Dell's guilty plea had been taken into account when imposing the sentence. 

According to the Sentencing Council, if a person is found guilty of drink driving, sentences can range from being banned from driving, fined or even sent to prison.

The police have the right to ask anyone who is driving, attempting to drive or in charge of a vehicle who they suspect has been drinking to take a breath test.

Anyone who refuses to supply a breath sample without reasonable excuse will be arrested.

If a person fails a roadside breath test, they will be taken to a police station for a second breath test. If positive, that individual will be charged with drink driving.

Failing to take the roadside test or police station test without a reasonable excuse is an offence.

The sentence imposed will depend on the severity of the offence.