News

Driving ban for man spotted with 'bag of lager'

By Jack Sommers
September 21, 2011

A MAN has avoided being sent to prison despite driving home from the from the pub in Aldershot while nearly five times the drink drive limit.

Bartosz Rokosz had 168 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

At Aldershot Magistrates' Court on Thursday (September 15), Rokosz, 29, of Arthur Street, Aldershot, was given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for a year.

He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours' unpaid work and was banned from driving for three years.

The court heard Rokosz was spotted at around 9pm on September 2 outside the Funky End pub in Station Road, which is next to Arthur Street. He was outside speaking to staff and then went inside to drink before returning to his car.

He drove off and parked 'badly' outside his home and police saw him get out of the car with a bag of lager.

Prosecutor Serena Edwards told the court the breath test reading was 'huge'.

She said: "He parked up badly. When he got out he was holding a bag of cans of lager. He also had one empty can. The defendant approached officers to talk to them. A roadside sample was taken from the defendant and it was positive.

"At the police station, two readings were taken and the lower one was 168 in a breath, a huge reading."

The court heard Rokosza, a Polish citizen who has lived in Britain for five years and held a European driving licence, had no previous convictions.

Magistrates said the reading was so high it could justify a prison sentence but decided to suspend after probation officers prepared a report on Rokosz.

Rebecca Shortt, defending, said driving while that drunk was 'extremely dangerous', adding her client was remorseful about having done so.

"He is remorseful and knows it is completely unacceptable," she said.

"He had been suffering depression after the end of a long-term relationship. He also lost his mother. These were contributing factors in his behaviour."

Magistrates also gave Rokosz permission to take part in the drink drivers' rehabilitation course, which would shorten his ban by up to a quarter if he completed it.

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Hopefully after treatment he wouldn't do it again, but if he does, I hope they throw the book at him.

Chris P, Cardiff, Wales
11/10/2011 at 01:35

here in arizona straight to jail, at least $5000 fine, 6 mths.in tent city, in a tent in az in the summer atleast 120degrees, when all this is done a ticket back home thats the way to do it.

jonny1, arizona
22/09/2011 at 23:38

so an english man who has been living in england all his life and has an english driving licence would have been sent to prison yep that makes sense, i have lost my dad, been through mental breakdowns, gone through an absolute nightmare marriage break-up and still don't drink and drive. he lives in Arthur Street so why was he driving from the Funky and its illigal to actually drink non alcoholic drinks whilst driving along.. disgusting sentance