Drink-driver Peter Kovalik in King’s Lynn court after causing crash at Docking
A man who caused a crash after drinking at a party was “incredibly sorry” for his actions, a court heard.
Peter Kovalik, 41, of Oakdene in Wicken Green Village, near Fakenham, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
He pleaded guilty to drink-driving – an offence he committed on June 10 last year.
Crown prosecutor Holly Postle told magistrates that on that date, Kovalik was involved in a crash with another car on the B1454 at Docking.
He veered towards the central lane and collided with the other vehicle.
Police attended the scene and asked Kovalik to carry out a roadside breath test, which he failed. This led to his arrest, although he was taken to hospital following the incident.
While there, tests revealed he had 178mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his system, exceeding the legal driving limit of 80mg.
Mitigating, duty solicitor Charlotte Winchester said Kovalik had attended a party the night before the crash, explaining why he was still over the limit.
He was driving to the shops when the incident occurred.
“He is incredibly sorry for his behaviour – he has never done anything like this before,” Ms Winchester said of the defendant, who had no previous convictions prior to this week.
She told the court that Kovalik lives with his wife and adult son, having moved to the UK from Slovakia 19 years ago. He hopes he can continue to work despite his driving ban.
Magistrates, chaired by Ginny Hutton, disqualified him from driving for 17 months. They offered him a drink-driving rehabilitation course which, if completed by December 18, will reduce that time period.
Kovalik will also pay a £646 fine, legal costs of £105 and a £258 victim surcharge.