A driver ended up on the wrong side of the law when he stopped his car for his friend to urinate over a wall. Police saw Ravi Tacordas's friend relieving himself in Nottingham on August 9 at 10pm.
Tacordas was on his way to Leicester but had to stop because his friend had a kidney infection and needed to wee. But Tacordas was the one taken away by police when he failed a roadside breath test - which registered at 55, over the limit of 35.
Despite providing one sample, a further sample is needed evidentially. But he could not provide these at a police station because he was unable to muster enough breath, even though he attempted the test three more times.
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At Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Friday (September 30), Tacordas, 34, of Harrison Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a sample of breath for analysis. Sandeep Kaushal, mitigating, said his client did not urinate on the floor - it was his friend.
Tacordas had been to see a friend in Nottingham and accepted he drank alcohol. "He appeared to have panicked at the police station, he states because of 'limited English'."
As background, he explained Tacordas had been married for two years and is the sole carer for his parents. He came to the UK in 2013. His wife works for a food company and he is looking for work.
Financially the family are struggling and he is hopeful to find work, added Mr Kaushal. "This came as a shock to him," he said of the offence.
District Judge Leo Pyle recognised the defendant was a man of previous good character who had never troubled the courts before. "But if you drink and drive it places everybody at risk on the roads, because you can't control your vehicle in the same way as when you are sober," he said.
Tacordas was fined £120, handed a prosecution costs order of £85, and a victim surcharge order of £48. He was banned from driving for 12 months - but a drink drive rehabilitation course is available, which would slash the disqualification by three months on completion.
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