Man praised for taking keys from drink-driver
A MEMBER of the public who stopped a drink driver by removing his keys from the ignition was on Tuesday commended by Lynn magistrates.
The chairman of the court, Mr Ed Easter, praised motorist Tony Hares for intervening after seeing the car being driven erratically and repeatedly hitting the kerb.
He said: "We think that the efforts of Mr Hares were significant and he is to be commended for preventing what could have been a much more serious incident."
The other driver, Babel Slawomir (31), of 33 Higham Green, Fairstead, Lynn, admitted driving with excess alcohol on November 4. He was banned from driving for 16 months, fined 170 and ordered to pay 75 costs.
Joe Ghirardello, prosecuting, told the court Mr Hares was driving behind Slawomir at about 5pm and saw him moving erratically on the road and hitting the kerb a number of times.
He followed Slawomir's car along Gayton Road until they both stopped at traffic lights near Gaywood Clock and Mr Hares went to speak to Slawomir about his driving.
"Slawomir went to put the vehicle into gear and the engine was still running.
"Mr Hares took the car keys from the ignition to stop him driving away," said Mr Ghirardello.
Police were called and arrested Slawomir. A breath test showed 69 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is 35.
Neal Meachem, for Slawomir, said his client was a carpenter who came to the UK in April to improve himself and had found full-time work through an agency.
On the day of the offence, Slawomir was on holiday and had returned home from visiting family and friends in Poland.
He had been drinking in his back garden and became hungry so decided to go out and get something to eat.
He felt fit to drive initially but then began to feel unwell.
After Mr Hares intervened, he was fully co-operative and waited for the police.
He was very apologetic and embarrassed by his great error of judgement, said Mr Meachem.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
