A NEVERN man was banned from driving for 46 months after he pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving. Paul Ladd, aged 50, of Penrallt Isaf pleaded guilty to the charge at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. Prosecuting, Ellie Morgan said: “At 6.20pm on Friday November 14, on the B4582 near Penrallt Isaf, an officer in an unmarked police vehicle noticed a Ford Fiesta.
“The officer illuminated his blue lights and the Fiesta immediately pulled off. The driver turned up a lane and then stopped. The officer was about to get out of his car when he noticed the reverse lights of the Fiesta had come on. “The Fiesta then came out and drove further up the road. The officer followed and the driver eventually came to a stop outside a house.
“The officer went to speak to the driver and noticed a strong smell of alcohol. “The driver told the officer that he had only had his last drink around five minutes ago, and therefore had to wait until twenty minutes had elapsed before being tested at the road side. “He was taken to the station where his lowest reading was 86 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
“There are two previous matters on his record, one in 2003 and the other in 2008, when he received a three year ban.” Defending, Gareth Phillips said: “I have asked probation to provide a report but they feel it is not needed. He has two previous convictions, one of those is relevant. “He has been living with his mother who is partially blind and suffers with dementia. He is stressed with looking after his mother and he has been diagnosed with depression.
“On the day in question he had been out for a drink, but he only lives around five minutes away from the pub and he could have walked home.” The Magistrates disqualified Ladd from driving for 46 months and fined him £110. Ladd was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Magistrates also offered him the chance to take the drink drivers rehabilitation course.
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