Droitwich student banned after driving Peugeot while drunk in Bewdley

Oliver Stanford, of Cedar Close, Droitwich, was spotted by neighbours driving a Peugeot up and down a road before his arrest. 

Owen Beale, prosecuting, said on December 19 last year the 18-year-old was spotted in the car that was parked in the middle of a road in Bewdley, with its alarm going off. 

"The defendant started to drive the car," Mr Beale said. 

"He was driving up and down the road, he did so several times. 

"One of his friends got out and urinated in the road.

COURT: Oliver Stanford leaving Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

"She suspected the group was drunk, including the defendant."

Mr Beale said police were called and when they spoke to Stanford, in Warstone Meadows, Bewdley, about taking a breathalyser test he told them: "I'm definitely going to fail". 

Stanford was taken to the police station where the evidential specimen of breath given by him was 58mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which is above the legal limit of 35mcg.

Sarah Brady, defending, said Stanford had gone to Bewdley and a group of friends went out to a local pub.

ARREST: Warstone Meadows where Stanford was arrested (Image: Google)

The solicitor said the group fell out so Stanford and others could not stay at the friend's address as originally planned.

"They were going to sleep in the car," Mrs Brady said.

"He was trying to move the car to a suitable location, not outside the house.

"It took him a while, it was only a short distance."

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Mrs Brady said Stanford had no previous convictions and magistrates were "very unlikely" to see him again as he bitterly regretted his actions.

She said the inevitable driving ban would have an impact on the teenager who is studying engineering in Southampton. 

COURT: Oliver Stanford appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court

Mrs Brady added that another punishment for Stanford was that he followed his favourite football team, Aston Villa, to away matches with his friends and family using his car.

"That won't be happening now," Mrs Brady said.

Charles Townsend, chairman of the magistrates bench, said the high specimen reading meant Stanford could have been banned 16 months - but due to the short distance they were only giving him a 12-month ban. 

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Stanford was offered the chance to take a drink-drive awareness course which, if he successfully completes, will reduce the ban by 12 weeks.

Stanford was also fined £120, ordered to pay £135 costs and £48 victim surcharge.

He agreed to pay the total, £303, in full within 28 days.