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Carl Millar recently represented Mr G at Pwllheli Magistrates Court in Wales, in relation to an allegation of driving with excess alcohol. Mr G had a reading of 66ųg alcohol / 100ml of breath. The Magistrates Court Guidelines recommend a period of disqualification of between 17-22 months at that level of reading. With powerful mitigation, Carl Millar was able to persuade the Magistrates to reduce the period of disqualification to the minimum sentence which is 12 months. Mr G was also offered the drink drivers’ rehabilitation course which will reduce his sentence even further, down to 9 months.

It is important that a case is prepared thoroughly so that all factors are considered by the Magistrates. The Magistrates do not know anything about a defendant when he walks into Court apart from the fact that he has been charged with drink driving and therefore only has a minor detail which is a micro spectrum of the whole picture. Mr G was a man of good character who had not committed any previous offences. His mitigation was that he had only driven a short distance and he made a genuine and honest mistake in that he thought he was driving on private land. In saying that, neither of the above were sufficient to qualify for special reasons.

Mr G was delighted with his outcome as a previous solicitor had advised him that he would face a period of disqualification of 20 months instead of the 9 months which he faces