Police said Timothy Howells ‘presented a serious risk of harm’ to learner drivers and other road users
The A484 between Kidwelly and Pembrey in Carmarthenshire(Image: Google)
A driving instructor was “heavily intoxicated” and well over the drink-drive limit when he crashed his car on the way to pick up a pupil for a driving lesson, a court has heard.
Police received a report about a crash on Friday morning on the A484 between Pembrey and Kidwelly in Carmarthenshire, where a car was found in a ditch on the side of the road. Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police attended the scene and said the car’s driver, Timothy Howells, 54, was breathalysed.
He provided a test reading of 110 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath and police said he “appeared heavily intoxicated”. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.
He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and a short time later, while in custody, he provided a second breathalyser reading of 132 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath – around four times the legal limit of 35mg.
At police interview Howells admitted to officers that he had been on his way to collect a pupil for a driving lesson when he crashed his car.
Howells, of Mansel Street, Burry Port, pleaded guilty to drink driving and was sentenced at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
He was handed an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to engage with an alcohol treatment programme for nine months and told to he must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.
Howells was also banned from driving for 30 months, which will be reduced by 30 weeks on completion of a driving course.
Chief Inspector Christina Fraser of Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Mr Howells was operating in a position of great trust and responsibility. Roads policing officers have worked quickly in conjunction with colleagues, CPS and the DVSA to ensure learner drivers and other road users have been safeguarded from an individual who presented a serious risk of harm.”
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