A drink driving chef was arrested after ‘taking the wrong turn onto the M4’.
Police were called to the motorway in Swindon at about 2.30am on 12 June this year following a report from a National Highways traffic officer.
Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said that a white BMW was stopped and the driver, 35-year-old Tobias Case, failed the roadside breath test.
In custody, he provided an evidential sample of 97 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – when the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (Monday) heard that the defendant, of Avens Close, Swindon, has a previous drink drive offence dating back to 2011.
A probation officer said that Case was struggling with his relationship breakdown and pressures at work – leading to regular binge drinking sessions.
She said he had made a “series of poor decisions” but originally had no intention of driving home after drinking with friends. The officer said she believes he took a wrong turn onto the M4 as his journey home should not have involved the motorway.
The officer added that Case works six long days a week as a chef in Cirencester.
Representing himself in court, he said that he “just made a poor decision” – stating that he “wasn’t thinking straight and I regret it”.
Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 12 rehabilitation activity days and a mental health treatment requirement of 12 sessions. He was told to pay a £961 fine, costs and a surcharge.
He was also disqualified from driving for two years.
