A TEENAGE drunk-driver who crashed his car has been banned from driving for 12 months and fined £900.
Joshua Burnham Smith, from Deans Way, Coventry, appeared at Leamington Magistrates Court charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, drink-driving, driving without due care and attention and having no insurance. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £360 victim surcharge.
Burnham Smith was driving a white Ford Fiesta containing two 19-year-old passengers as he drove at speed along Wheelwright Lane before colliding with a telegraph pole and rolling the Fiesta on Royal Oak Lane, Ash Green, Coventry at 1am on April 7.
Officers arrived to find significant damage to street lighting, telegraph poles, nearby property walls and vehicles, debris across the road and the Fiesta on its side. Fire and ambulance services also attended the scene.
The teen was quickly detained on suspicion of drink-driving and for possession of an offensive weapon after an extendable baton was found in the wreckage.
Miraculously those in the car suffered only minor injuries with the back seat passenger needing treatment to a cut to his head. Burnham Smith was also taken to hospital as a precaution for further medical checks.
Tests showed – with 81mg of alcohol in his blood – he was twice the legal limit.
On sentencing, the magistrate took the defendant’s guilty plea into consideration and ordered his driving licence be endorsed for no insurance and driving without due care and attention.
His 12 month ban can be reduced by 25 per cent if he satisfactorily completes a driver retraining course.
PC James Heath said afterwards: “There is no doubt that Joshua Burnham Smith’s driving fell way below the standard of a competent driver.
“He drove carelessly showing no consideration for other people who may be using the road that night.
“He was also extremely irresponsible in choosing to drink drive.
“We hope his ban and the significant fine imposed for all his offending that night, gives him time to consider the consequences of his actions and to change his behaviour for the better.”
He expressed his gratitude to residents in Royal Oak Lane and others who provided CCTV evidence showing the events leading up to the crash.
“This collision had a huge effect on the local community and we thank them for their patience throughout the course of the investigation.”
