A LANDSCAPER was 'slurring' his words and unsteady on his feet after he sank five pints before being caught drink driving in his works van.

Ryan Goss of Fielden Row, Worcester, admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday. The inevitable loss of his licence was described by his solicitor as 'a huge' blow for the worker who had only recently started his own business in the landscaping and patio trade.

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The 27-year-old was stopped by officers in his Ford Transit van in Fielden Row on January 19. Goss told officers he had drunk 'five pints' when challenged at the roadside. He failed a breath test and an evidential specimen of breath was taken at the police station which showed 68mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, close to twice the limit of 35mcg.

Worcester News:

STOPPED: Ryan Goss was honest with police from the moment he was stopped.

 

Eleanor Peart, prosecuting, said officers 'observed the defendant travelling towards them at speed with steamed up windows and what was discovered to be two people in the passenger seat' at 11.25pm.

Miss Peart added: "They could smell alcohol on the defendant. His eyes were glazed. He was unsteady on his feet and his speech was described as slurred and senseless. When asked if he had consumed alcohol he said 'five pints'."

Worcester News:

PLEA: The guilty plea was taken at Worcesetr Magistrates Court 

 

The prosecutor said it was an aggravating feature that he was carrying passengers but a mitigating feature that he had no relevant previous convictions.

Jason Patel, defending, asked that his client be given credit for his 'timely guilty plea' and his admission at the roadside.

Mr Patel said it was challenged that Goss was speeding. His client was described as being 'fully co-operative'.

"Loss of his licence is going to be huge. He has worked since leaving school in the landscaping and patio trade" said Mr Patel.

Six months ago Goss started his own business and the van he was stopped in was described by Mr Patel as his leased works vehicle.

Mr Patel added: "He's going to have to look for someone to assist him in terms of driving or give his jobs away to others in terms of the trade."

Magistrates banned Goss from driving for 17 months and fined him £276 (reduced from £417 to give him credit for his early guilty plea).

Goss must also pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £34.

They offered him the drink drivers rehabilitation course. If completed successfully and at his own expense this reduce the length of the driving disqualification by 17 weeks.