Plymouth drink-driver stopped by red light when he crashed into it
A MAN driving while nearly three times the legal alcohol limit was stopped by a red traffic light – when he crashed into it.
Michael Cole, aged 22, left his car "half way up" the red traffic light, Plymouth magistrates were told.
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Cole, of Mount Gould Way, admitted drink-driving on December 30. He had 101 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the legal limit is 35.
Howard Phillips, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Cole drove his Mitsubishi Colt into a traffic light in Tothill Road, St Judes, just before 2am.
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He said a police officer who arrived at the scene said the vehicle was "half way up the traffic light".
Mr Phillips admitted he was the driver and had been drinking.
The court heard Cole had never come to the attention of the police before.
Stephen Walker, for Cole, said he had been "haunted" by the experience of being held in custody.
He added he had been out in the city centre and for some reason he had decided to drive home.
Mr Walker said: "He is a young man who has made one mistake in life. He assures me that nothing like this will ever happen again. He is from a decent family."
The court heard the family had their own parking spot on the Barbican where they usually left the car.
Mr Walker said the car was always picked up well into the next day following a night out.
He added Cole, an arts graduate, was a freelance photographer who had published a book and also did bar work.
Magistrates banned him from driving for 24 months, fined him £330, ordered that he pay £80 costs and £33 victim surcharge.
Comments
by MissAnthrope
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 7:41PM
“I think the odds of Hitler's father being Michael Cole's mum's uncle are fairly remote.”
by josdave
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 7:10PM
“I am always taken back by the selfishness of motorists when it comes to drink driving. If a motorist who doesn't drink and drive is asked "Why" the answer is ALWAYS "I don't want to lose my licence" and NEVER "I'm afraid I might kill or injure someone". They need to up the penalty for this making the second offence a ten year ban.”
by marc1964
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 4:49PM
“What a Muppet
No Symapthy send him down m;lud”
by FabDBone
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 11:26AM
“"Stephen Walker, for Cole, said he had been "haunted" by the experience of being held in custody."
Better that than being haunted by the death of an innocent bystander,eh Michael?”
by marc3981
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 10:09AM
“Im pretty sure hitler didnt! Wasnt his father his mums uncle?!”
by trumanmark
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 9:10AM
“Ha ! what a shame he didn't have to pay for the light as well, comes from a good family, so did Adolf Hitler . . . .”