Ban for abusive drink driver
A WILLINGTON motorist who became ³abusive² and ³aggressive² when asked to give a second breath sample by police has been fined and banned from driving.Mr Stuart Monkhouse, 23, from Bourne Way, Willington, was fined £150, ordered to pay £85 costs and banned from driving for one year when he appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates¹ Court on Friday, April 13.
He was pulled over by police on Ennerdale Drive, Crook late on December 2 last year.
Officers smelt alcohol on his breath and asked Mr Monkhouse to take a first breath test, which he failed.
He was then taken to Bishop Auckland Police Station and during the journey tried to climb from the back of the police car into the front.
Prosecution said: ³The defendant then became verbally abusive and resistant to officers.
³He was taken into custody still acting aggressively and at 11.45pm: he refused to provide a breath sample.
³He remained abusive and was taken back into the cell.² Mr Monkhouse¹ solicitor said: ³The day before the incident Mr Monkhouse lost his job.
³During the day he had not eaten and had consumed one can of lager before he was stopped by the police.
³Initially he was cooperative and provided a roadside sample but after that he was arrested and he lost control.
³It is fair to say that he then showed some fairly odd behaviour and attempted to climb from the back of the police car to the front.
³Since this incident Mr Monkhouse has been diagnosed as suffering with a number of medical health problems, accounting for his behaviour and failure to provide a breath sample.² Mr Monkhouse said he was receiving help from an early intervention team.
