A CAERPHILLY drink-driver who crashed his car on the way home from selling his caravan was banned for three years.
Christopher Greening, 52, of Lansbury Park pleaded guilty to one charge of driving while over the specified alcohol limit when he appeared before magistrates in Llanelli on Thursday (Mar 29).
Prosecuting, Lisa Jones told the court that at around 8pm on March 9 a single-vehicle crash took place on the A485. Police officers were alerted and arrived on the scene to find a Vauxhall pick-up truck had collided with a bank, causing significant front end damage.
Police spoke to Greening, and noticed a ‘strong smell of alcohol’. A roadside breath test proved positive and he was subsequently arrested and taken to Ammanford Custody Suite where a reading of 58mcg of alcohol within 100ml of breath was produced.
In interview, Greening told police that he was driving back from Newquay after selling his caravan. He said that he was unfamiliar with the road, misjudged the bend and that is why the accident had happened.
Greening admitted drinking until 2am that morning and said that he had been ‘very drunk’.
“He had actually fitted a tow rope before the police arrived at the roadside in the hope that someone would help him,” Ms Jones remarked.
The court heard that Greening had previous convictions for drink-driving and driving while disqualified in 2006 and 2009 respectively.
Mitigating, Laura Sherwood pointed out that Greening had remained at the scene following the smash.
“The reason he had to stay in Newquay and drive back the next day was due to bad weather,” she explained.
“He was selling his caravan and the water pipes on the caravan had frozen.
“He realised he’d have to stay overnight and his friend offered him a bed to sleep for the night and they both drank.”
Ms Sherwood told the court that Greening accepted he shouldn’t have driven the next day, and had over-steered because the road was unknown to him.
Greening, who was trying to reduce his alcohol intake, had endured a difficult three months, following the breakdown on his 30-year marriage and the resulting debt, which had made the sale of the caravan essential.
In addition to the three-year ban, Greening was fined £80 and ordered to pay costs totalling £115.
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