East Rudham man appears at King’s Lynn court for drink-driving in Fakenham
A Fakenham resident called the police after discovering that a 67-year-old drink-driver had crashed outside of their house.
Michael Fennell, of Station Road in East Rudham, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he admitted driving above the specified alcohol limit.
Prosecutor Colette Harper explained that on November 18, at 8.40pm, a member of the public had called the police reporting a single-vehicle accident near their property in Fakenham.
The court was told that Fennell was the driver of the car that crashed, and that he “staggered” out of it and was slurring his words.
Officers arrived at the scene where a breath test was carried out which came back with a reading of 86mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit to drive is 35mcg.
He was arrested and taken to Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital to be checked over.
In mitigation, George Sorrell said that Fennell had a few drinks at a friend’s house before getting behind the wheel.
“The defendant pleads guilty, and is very remorseful and ashamed of himself,” said Mr Sorrell.
The solicitor added: “Luckily, nobody was injured from this accident, he came out of it all right.
“He is a good man who has worked all of his life, because of this offence he will have to retire.”
Fennell was disqualified from driving for 20 months and was fined £120.
He will also pay a victim surcharge of £48 and court costs of £105.