An estate agent celebrated his new job at the pub before driving home drunk – and causing a crash.
At Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (10 August), Dominic Mullen pleaded guilty to driving a BMW 2 Series while over the prescribed alcohol limit.
Prosecutor Pauline Lambert said the 29-year-old had been driving at high speed along Tadpole Lane at around 11.30pm on 15 June this year – as he travelled home from the pub.
A local resident reported him driving over a speed bump too quickly, which caused a loud bang as the car’s bumper struck the ground. Moments later, he ploughed into another vehicle at a junction.
Police were called to the collision and Mullen was arrested when he failed the roadside breath test.
In custody, he provided an evidential reading of 76 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
The defendant, of Pernik Close, Haydon End, admitted his crimes in an interview shortly after the incident. He had no previous convictions.
Mark Glendenning, defending, said his client works as an estate agent and had been offered a new job – with “significantly better pay”. He’d gone out to celebrate and consumed 4-5 pints.
He said that Mullen attempted to make the short drive home, but “misjudged a corner”.
As a result of the drink driving conviction, the defendant was told he could not start his new job and he had already handed in his notice to his previous employer. He is currently unemployed.
Mr Glendenning said his client pays two mortgages – his own and his grandfather’s – and is currently living off his savings. He said Mullen is seeking work and has not driven since the incident.
Magistrates imposed a 20-month driving ban, a £120 fine and told him to pay costs. The length of the ban will be reduced by 25% if a drink-drive course is completed.
