A FISHGUARD man has been caught drink driving for a second time, and on this occasion he was on the way to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
Thomas Anthony Fitzmartin, 47, of Harbour Village, pleaded guilty to driving whilst he had 70 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, twice the legal limit at Haverfordwest Court on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Gerald Neave told the court: “At 8.15pm on October 6 the defendant was driving a vehicle and was pulled over in a routine vehicle check. On speaking to Fitzmartin, PC Holloway noticed a smell of intoxicants on his breath. He was taken to Haverfordwest police station where PC Evans noted an intoxicator reading of 70mg.”
Fitzmartin’s defence solicitor, Miss Katy Hanson, said: “I would ask that your worships give my client full credit for his early plea and full co-operation with the police. He was an alcoholic four years ago, but has been sober for the last four years whilst he has been caring for his father who suffers from dementia.
Miss Hanson added: “However, the circumstances are that now his father needs a greater level of care and has been placed in a home. This has weighed heavily upon him and he has returned to drinking. A month before he was stopped he realised that he was on a slippery slope.
“He was on the way to an AA meeting when he was stopped,” she said.
The chairman of the bench said: “You know from your previous time in court how seriously we take drink driving. Therefore we ban you from driving for three years, and fine you £110, plus £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs. This totals £215.”
“You can pay £10 a fortnight which will be deducted from benefits,” he added.
