A van driver who was seen driving along the M4 with only two tyres on his vehicle was found to be almost twice the drink-drive limit. Self-employed carpenter Laurie Rosser was caught after concerned members of the public reported the state of the van to police who located him and pulled him over.
His solicitor told Swansea Magistrates' Court that the defendant was unaware he was over the limit but that his mind had been "clouded", possibly as a result of Covid, and after two tyres had blown on his van while on the motorway he had decided not to stop on the hard shoulder but to head for a "place of safety" instead.
The court heard that in the early hours of June 26 this year South Wales Police received calls about a van with both its nearside tyres missing travelling westbound on the M4 near junction 47. Lucy Mansfield., prosecuting, said officers from the force's roads policing unit soon located the Vauxhall Vivaro in Gorseinon Road and pulled it over. The driver, 42-year-old Rosser, failed a breath test and was arrested and taken to Swansea Central Police station where a subsequent evidential test gave a reading of 66mg of alcohol in 100ml millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Laurie Alan Rosser, of Brighton Road, Gorseinon, Swansea, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before justices. He has no previous convictions. Rhys Davies, for Rosser, called the events of June 26 an "unfortunate incident". He said the defendant had been out with friends on the evening in question and had drunk two pints and was unaware he was over the limit. The solicitor said his client's "mind was clouded", adding that the day after the incident he had tested positive for Covid, and when two tyres on the van blew out as he was driving on the M4 the self-employed carpenter had decided to drive "a place of safety" rather than stop on the motorway. Mr Davies added that Rosser was a father-of-four who acted as a carer for his wife and he said the driving ban which his client now faced would have a major impact on him given the nature of his work.
Rosser was disqualified from driving for 17 months and was fined £300. He must also pay £85 prosecution costs and a £120 court surcharge.
READ NEXT:
Van driver high on cocaine and booze cuts-up police car and leads officers on midnight chase
Pensioner glassed niece in face in pub after watching Six Nations game
'Sadistic' man scalded pregnant partner with kettle of boiling water
You can sign up to our regular Crime and Punishment newsletter here while this interactive tool allows you to check the latest crime statistics for your area:
