Published date: 20 February 2017 |
Published by: Staff reporterRead more articles by Staff reporter
A FORMER firefighter was four times the legal drink-drive limit.
Royston Lewis, 54, of Church Street, Rhos, shunted into the back of another vehicle at temporary traffic lights on Chester Road in Gresford, on February 1.
He pleaded guilty at Wrexham Magistrates Court where it was heard that he had turned to drink to cope with the horrors of what he saw during 13 years as a firefighter.
The court was told that he had witnessed seven children perish in a house fire and the trauma of that incident was causing him to turn to drink.
Justin Espie, prosecuting, said: “The witness was driving a Renault Megane and was held up at temporary traffic lights when he heard a loud bang and felt a heavy impact shunting his vehicle, to the extend the radio came out of the dashboard.
“His two-and-a-half year old daughter was in the back passenger seat.
“The defendant said he was sorry. His speech was slurred and his breath smelled of alcohol.”
Mr Espie said the witness took Lewis’ keys from him, and Lewis became abusive and approached the rear pasenger door where the child was sitting before police arrived.
Laura Preston-Hayes, defending, said Lewis approached the door to check the child was OK and that there “was no malicious intent”.
She said: “His is a sad situation.
”He served 13 years in the fire service and was subjected to instances that never left him. He has flashbacks to an incident where a family of seven children deceased in a house fire.
“It is something for which he has never had counselling for and he is turning into an alcoholic and accepts he had been drinking that day.”
Lewis was found to have 140 microgrammes of alcohol in 35 millilitres of breath – four times the legal limit which is 35mg.
Probation officer Andrew Connah said Lewis accepted full responsibility for his actions.
Mr Connah added: “He felt OK to drive but on reflection he realises it was a major error in judgement. He has worked for many years in the fire service and understands more than most people the consequences of drink-driving.
“He truly regrets his actions.”
Lewis has a good employment record but is currently out of work and needs to get his life back on track, Mr Connah added.
His mother and father had both been alcoholics.
Lewis first drank alcohol at the age of eight and continues to do so, consuming at least a bottle of wine on a daily basis.
Mr Connah added Lewis suffered from mental health problems as a result of his experiences working with the fire service, though he has never formally been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Chairman of magistrates Jon Sankey drew back from sending Lewis to prison, imposing a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
He said: “I don’t think I have ever seen such a high reading in any court I have sat in.
“In our opinion, this case is aggravated by the high reading, the fact that you were involved in a crash and there were passengers in the other vehicle.
“We believe this has crossed the custody threshold. We should send you to prison today but we have listened to the probation report and the mitigation provided on your behalf.”
Lewis was ordered to undertake a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a 12-month alcohol treatment order.
He was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay £85 costs as well as a £115 victim surcharge.
Mr Sankey added: “I think I speak for the bench when I wish you good luck with everything.”
http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/172737/ex-firefighter-from-wrexham-was-four-times-drink-drive-limit-with-young-daughter-in-car.aspx
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