Driver called to pick up son crashes in ditch after drinking with friend

A father who was called to pick up his son after drinking with a friend lost control of his car and crashed into a ditch, hitting a shed. Paul Griffith told Leicester Magistrates’ Court he will lose his job and possibly his home because of losing his license for the offence.

The court heard that at around 8pm on Sunday, May 12, Griffith, 44, of Luther Street, Westcotes, Leicester, had been traveling along Fleckney Road, Kibworth, when he lost control at a T-junction. Prosecutor Vishal Patel stated: “The defendant was driving a Vauxhall Astra and was unable to brake.

“His brakes locked, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road, into a ditch and collide with a metal shed.” He said Griffiths had two convictions for “similar” offenses in 2010.

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After being arrested, Griffiths was taken to a police station and breathalyzed. It gave a reading of 55 micrograms per 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Representing himself in court, Griffiths told magistrates: “I went out for a few drinks with a friend earlier. I got a call from my son asking me to pick him up.

“I thought I would have been fine, but obviously that wasn’t the case. I applied the brakes and went straight over the T-junction.

“It’s a little out of character for me because I haven’t done it in a while.”

He apologized to the magistrates. He said: “I am very sorry for what I have done. I rarely drink – with the job I drive every day. I work all over the country and abroad.”

He said he would lose his job and didn’t know how he would afford to keep his house. He said: “I don’t know what I’m going to do, to be honest.”

Griffith was banned from driving for 12 months. He was also fined £369 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £148 victim surcharge.