A man who has never passed the driving test got behind the wheel after a drinking session. Lee Jones, 37, was caught driving on the wrong side of a major Bridgend road while at more than double the alcohol limit.
Prosecutor Emily Shopland told Cardiff Magistrates' Court that a police officer attended the area in the early hours of May 14 after a witness reported concerns over a driver who appeared to be drunk. At around 2.45am the officer spotted a blue Peugeot travelling on the wrong side of the A4093, then rolling to a stop.
Jones, of Heol Glyn Goch in Gilfach Goch, got out and admitted he only had a provisional driving licence. He blew 77mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg. He later pleaded guilty to drink-driving without a licence or insurance.
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Louis Dawe, mitigating, said his client had no relevant previous convictions, adding: "He doesn't know why he got in the vehicle."
He added: "He now realises it was a foolish decision, but there were no passengers and he hadn't been in trouble since 2016." Mr Dawe told the court Jones has health issues which means he is not able to work.
Presiding Justice Nigel Buckland pointed out Jones was more than double the alcohol limit and that there "could have been a more serious outcome". He imposed a 23-month driving disqualification, £120 fine, £85 in prosecution costs and a £48 victim services surcharge. Jones will pay the court at a rate of £20 a month.
Mr Buckland said that because Jones had never passed his driving test, he could not be offered a drivers' rehabilitation course to shorten the length of the ban. You can read more of the latest Welsh court news here.
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