The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A man, arrested after a positive breath test revealed a reading more than three times the legal limit, has been given a suspended prison sentence after he admitted to a court that he was a ‘binge drinker’.
Vytautas Linkis (36), of Cannon Street, Wisbech, but who was living in Bourne Road, Spalding, at the time, admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared at Boston Magistrates’ Court.
Emma Price, prosecuting, said police saw Linkis in his Renault Clio car at 8.35pm on August 19 at the Saracen’s Head in Washway Road, Saracen’s Head.
She said officers followed him and noticed his driving was erratic, often crossing the white line and varying his speed up and down.
He was stopped and a positive breath test revealed a reading of 124 micrograms of alcohol in his breath, more than three times the legal limit of 35.
Mitigating, Helen Coney said he had alcohol problems and would welcome any support.
The Probation Service said Linkis told them he did not have an alcohol problem but did drink to excess when he did drink.
They also said Linkis would lose his job as a result of the mandatory driving ban.
The magistrates said the reading was at the ‘highest level we deal with’ and that he had been driving at what would have been a busy time of the evening.
He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work for the community.
He was banned from driving for 30 months but was offered the drink drivers’ rehabilitation course, which will reduce the period of the ban by 30 weeks. He was also ordered to pay £213 in court costs and charges.
