A 27-year-old man who drove at 105mph whilst disqualified has been sent to prison.
Wiltshire Police stopped a Mercedes on the M4 in Swindon at 11.35pm on 3 March after the vehicle was recorded travelling at 35mph over the motorway speed limit.
Officers found Uzuva Katjimune in the driver’s seat and were concerned he was under the influence due to his breath smelling of alcohol, his glazed eyes and the fact he was unsteady on his feet.
The defendant, of Empire Way, Cardiff, failed to provide a specimen of breath for analysis at the roadside and he was arrested. In custody, he again failed to provide a specimen and was further arrested.
Officers also discovered Katjimune was already disqualified from driving – having been slapped with a 30-month roads ban in 2020 for failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
At Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (28 April), he pleaded guilty to failing to provide and driving whilst disqualified. Speeding and no insurance charges were withdrawn.
Ms Boden, of Millar and Co Solicitors, said her client is “extremely remorseful”, adding that he “tells me he will not do this again”.
She said Katjimune is currently working in healthcare and is engaged in a level five community healthcare qualification – which he hopes to complete in May.
Ms Boden described the defendant as a “highly caring person”, telling the court that “in general, he is a good person, as a general human being”. She said he “appreciates how serious what he did was”.
Chief magistrate Simon Wolfensohn decided that his complete disregard for a court order meant the bench could only impose an immediate prison sentence.
Katjimune was jailed for 18 weeks, disqualified from driving for three years and told to pay a £128 surcharge.
Keith Ballinger appeared for the Crown Prosecution Service.
