A former British Airways employee has been sentenced for driving his car through Cardigan town centre despite being so drunk that, according to his solicitor, ‘he didn’t know what he was doing’.
Police were summoned to a location in the town centre soon after 6.30pm on March 4 after being informed of a collision between a Kia Sportage and some parked cars.
There they discovered Martin Dowie, 58, of Gilgal Terrace, Pennar, Pembroke Dock.
“He’d mounted the kerb and was resting against a boundary wall,” Crown Prosecutor Ryan Colamazza told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“He was believed to be drunk as his eyes were glazed, there was a strong smell of intoxicants, and he was walking unsteadily on his feet.”
A roadside breath test was carried out which gave a reading of 118 mcg. The legal limit is 35.
Dowie was taken to Cardigan police station for further tests to be carried out, however he failed to provide an adequate specimen.
“When he got to the police station, he was unable to stand up, his speech was slurred and he was unsure of where he was going,” continued Mr Colamazza.
“He told officers he would be over the legal limit and the first test he provided was 118 mcg. He then made further attempts to give further readings, but they only provided partial readings of between 116mcg and 112mcg. But both were in excess of the legal limit.”
Dowie, who pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis, was legally represented in court by Mr Tom Lloyd.
“My client is profoundly embarrassed at what’s happened,” he said.
“He’d attended a local pub to drop off a gift and didn’t intend staying. But people bought him drinks and he very foolishly decided to drive.”
Mr Lloyd added that Dowie had worked for British Airways for some 30 years and had recently moved to Pembrokeshire.
“He was so drunk that he really didn’t know what he was doing,” he said.
After considering the evidence, magistrates ordered Dowie to pay a total of £754. This comprised a £478 fine, a £191 surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 24 months.
