Common sense ‘deserted’ South Raynham man Wayne Hardman when he opted to drink-drive
A man who crashed his car while drink-driving has been disqualified and fined more than £800.
Wayne Hardman, 59, of West Raynham Road in South Raynham, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Police were called to the scene of a single-vehicle collision on the A1065 at East Raynham on January 5, where they found Hardman in the driver’s seat.
He failed a roadside breath test, and later samples showed he had 112mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath - more than three times the legal limit of 35mcg.
Mitigating, duty solicitor George Sorrell said that Hardman - who was of previous good character - works as a machine operator in an agricultural mill.
“It is a high reading. The aggravating feature, apart from the high reading, is of course the accident,” Mr Sorrell said.
“He doesn’t have any drinking problems. He tells me that he was drinking - obviously. It isn’t a regular thing for him.
“It may be that on this occasion he drank far too much, and common sense deserted an otherwise man of good character.”
Magistrates disqualified Hardman from driving for two years, but offered him a drink-driving rehabilitation course which, if completed, will reduce that term by 24 weeks.
He will also pay a £576 fine, £230 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.