A Milford man who drove a considerable distance in his vehicle over twice the limit has been handed a community order and a lengthy driving ban after admitting the charge in court.
Twenty-nine-year-old Alun John Jenkins, of Larch Road, Mount Estate, pleaded guilty to driving his Vauxhall Astra between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock, with 76 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court police officers received a number of phone calls concerned about the manner of Mr. Jenkins’s driving on Sunday, October 28.
“The first call was received at 5.22 pm, when the defendant’s vehicle was seen going through a red light on St. Catherine’s Street in Carmarthen, whilst another call was received stating that witnesses had seen Mr. Jenkins’s car swerving all over the lanes on the A40, and nearly hitting a crash barrier.
“Half an hour later, the vehicle was spotted by police officers in a line of traffic on London Road in Pembroke Dock.
“Officers indicated for Mr. Jenkins to stop, but he didn’t straight away, and turned left and went into a car parking space at McDonalds,” he continued.
Mr. Jenkins smelt of intoxicants to officers who had pulled him over and when he provided a reading after his arrest, he was found to be over twice the legal limit.
“There are a number of aggravating features - the distance travelled; the speed he must have been driving, where he is witnesses at 5.22 pm in Carmarthen, and then 6 pm in Pembroke Dock; and the manner of his driving. Mr. Jenkins also has a previous relevant conviction,” added Mr. Pritchard-Jones.
Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher said that there was little to say about the manner of the driving or distance, but did say that 38 minutes to get from Carmarthen to Pembroke Dock didn’t necessarily show speeding, as the majority of the road was 60 mph.
“Mr. Jenkins is a ground worker who works all over the country and returns on weekends to see his children. He is fully aware of what happened and accepts the facts, and consequences of what happens,” he said.
After receiving a report from the probation officer, magistrates handed Mr. Jenkins a 12 month community order, with a requirement of 120 hours of unpaid work to be carried out.
Mr. Jenkins was disqualified from driving for 42 months and also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85, and a victim surcharge of £85.