A drink-driver who was involved in an accident along the A477 between Red Roses and Llanteg the day before New Year’s Eve has been told that he is lucky not to be facing more serious charges.
Twenty-seven-year-old Ryan Kerry Howells, of Heritage View, Pleasant Valley, Stepaside, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, to plead guilty to driving a motor vehicle after exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit.
The court heard how Mr. Howells’ BMW was involved in an RTC on the A477 shortly after 10 am on December 30 of last year.
“The defendant was driving west and strayed across the central white lines and hit a vehicle coming the other way,” prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court.
“Police attended the scene and Mr. Howells provided a positive roadside sample. He was taken to the hospital as he had sustained some injuries, and a blood test showed that he gave a reading of 120 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
“He must have caused significant damage, but I don’t know of injuries to the other parties involved,” he added.
Defence solicitor Anthony O’Connell told the court that Mr. Howells had told him that the incident occurred during a ‘low point’ in his life which had led him to turn to drink.
“He was caught in a bad relationship and he had issues with mental health and also financial matters. Life had got on top of him. He is remorseful for what happened,” he said.
Chairman of the magistrates David Simpson told Mr. Howells when sentencing that he should not have drunk and driven.
“The worst part is that you caused an accident and you’re very lucky that someone else wasn’t seriously injured or there would be a lot of very different charges thrown at you today,” he remarked.
Magistrates disqualified Mr. Howells from driving for 15 months and fined him £300 for the offence.
He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.