A carpenter was caught drink-driving after attempting to "unwind" at the pub following some distressing news. Wesley Brearton got behind the wheel of his Audi Q5 after a Bridgend town centre drinking session.
Wearing a smart dark suit the 43-year-old dad-of-three appeared on Friday at Cardiff Magistrates' Court. Prosecutor Ann Griffiths said: "During the evening of Wednesday, July 13, a report was made that a male had driven from a pub in Market Street and was seen to stop outside a takeaway. He then drove down Market Street and officers pursued him. He was on his own."
Brearton, who has no previous convictions, was stopped by police and blew 64mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit for driving is 35mg.
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Nathan Jones, mitigating, said: "On the day in question he had received a telephone call from his mother who lives up north. His mum isn't well but he didn't fully appreciate how unwell she was until the day of the offence. She told him she had suffered from a number of strokes and had a stent put in due to heart problems. It came as a shock as he is very close to his mother.
"He went to the pub with the intention of simply having a drink or two. Whenever he and his partner go out they take a taxi home. They have a very strict policy normally but he wasn't thinking straight. After hearing about his mother he had a drink to simply unwind and he drank more than he should have. It is not the highest reading but clearly he shouldn't have been driving and he accepts that."
Brearton, of Underwood Place in Brackla, pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Mr Jones said his client was "ashamed" to be in court and would be hit "very hard" by the inevitable driving ban. His three children live in Rhondda and the loss of his licence will make it harder for him to see them at weekends. The self-employed carpenter, who often services flats in Tenby, has an average gross pay of £500 a week which will take a "significant hit" when he is banned from driving, said Mr Jones.
Presiding Justice Peter Welsh said he took into account Brearton's cooperation with police and his previously clean character. The magistrates imposed a 17-month driving ban which will be cut by a quarter if Brearton completes a driving rehabilitation course. He must also pay a £200 fine, £85 in prosecution costs, and an £80 victim services surcharge. You can read more court stories here.
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