A man seen ‘driving erratically’ by police was found to be over the alcohol limit.
Boston Magistrates Court heard Zaiden Moynihan (19), of Kipling Crescent, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, was seen to nearly crash while driving his Audi down Broadgate between Weston and Whaplode Drove at 2.15am on Saturday, March 22.
“Police saw him swerving left and right and he almost crashed into parked cars,” prosecuting Turan Sanat told the court. “He pulled into a drive where officers apprehended him. They described him as having glazed eyes and swaying.
Following a breath test, Moynihan was found to have 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Officers also found herbal cannabis in the car, the court was told, but the defendant was not found to be over the legal limit for the drug.
Defending Moynihan, Beris Brickles KC said his client was a self-employed plasterer with no previous convictions.
“This is a very poor mistake he made and he recognises that.
“He received a call from his girlfriend who was in a very poor emotional state and crying down the phone, so he made the poor decision to drive and go to her.
“He says his erratic driving was because he was trying to find a lighter rather than being drunk and he’s co-operated fully with police.”
Speaking through a statement read out by Mr Brickles, Moynihan said: “I’ve offered my deep remorse for my actions and the events have given me a profound understanding of the potential danger I created, not just for myself, but others too.”
Moynihan was disqualified for 14 months to be reduced by 14 weeks upon the successful completion of a drink driving awareness course.
He was also fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £80 victim surcharge. An order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis.
