A 'PANICKED' car salesman who had been on a vodka binge got behind the wheel to pick up his girlfriend after she was 'spiked' on a night out in Worcester.

Thomas Edwards of Sentinel Close, St John's, Worcester, admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester. He was close to three times the limit when police pulled him over.

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The 30-year-old was stopped in The Cross in Worcester city centre on Saturday, January 8 after he made the 'snap wrong decision' to head out to pick up his partner after reports she had become unwell. Edwards, who was at home, had already drunk 'home measures' of vodka, not expecting to go out.

Worcester News:

GUILTY: Thomas Edwards

 

Sumreen Afsar, prosecuting, said police stopped the defendant's Skoda and he blew 105mcg at the roadside. A further evidential specimen of 100mcg per 100ml of breath was recorded at the police station - the lowest of the readings taken.

Edwards had no relevant previous convictions.

Jason Patel, defending, handed up a number of letters on his client's behalf. He explained that his client had been driving for the last 12 or 13 years.

Worcester News:

STOPPED: The Cross in Worcester city centre where Thomas Edwards was stopped.

On the evening in question he had been drinking alcohol at home and had 'no intention of going out'.

"His partner had gone out with friends for a meal and had not drunk excessively" he said.

However, Mr Patel said she became 'unwell'. "It was suspected she had been spiked" he said.

A friend called Edwards and asked him to come and collect her, he said. Mr Patel said there had been 'no suggestion of anything untoward in the manner of the driving'.

Edwards had been employed in the motor trade, lost his employment during Covid and began working again in the trade in March last year.

"Following the incident he has come straight into his employer where he works in car sales. Unfortunately they have let him go instantly" said Mr Patel who described his client's honesty as 'a true measure of the man before you'.

He added: "He accepts he has an issue with alcohol. In respect of that he has been to Cranstoun (alcohol and drug recovery service) and registered with them."

A probation officer, who interviewed Edwards, said he 'went into panic mode after continual calls from a friend' about his partner.

"He straight away went to pick her up. She was, as he puts it, 'in a state' and the plan was to get her home" she said.

Edwards told her he had been drinking vodka but that they were 'home measures' so 'he doesn't know how much he drank during that evening'.

"It was a snap wrong decision. He did not know of any other options at the time" she said.

Edwards was described as living with his partner at a mortgaged property. "He's now unemployed and is concerned about getting employment in regard to being able to pay the mortgage in future" she said.

Magistrates made a 12 month community order to include six months of alcohol treatment, 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was further ordered to pay court costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £95. Magistrates banned him from driving for 24 months. However, they did offer him the drink drivers' rehabilitation course.

If completed successfully, and at his own expense, this will reduce the disqualification by up to six months.