A Swindon drink driver dobbed himself into the police after crashing his friend’s Tesla.
Despite not having a licence, 25-year-old Benjamin Holley took off in the Model 3 without the owner knowing and ploughed it into a lamppost in The Street on 12 August this year.
The defendant, of Hepworth Road, Abbey Meads, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (29 November).
Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said that police received a phone call from Holley reporting that he had taken his friend’s car and crashed it whilst he was drunk.
On arrival, shortly before midnight, officers found the vehicle damaged and with its airbags deployed.
He was taken into custody, where he provided an evidential sample of breath reading 43 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – just eight microgrammes over the legal limit.
In interview, he claimed he had been watching boxing with friends and had six or seven pints.
Stephen Collins, defending, said it was “unusual from someone in this position to call police”, and Holley should be given credit for that as well as his immediate admissions of guilt.
He told the court that his client made a “stupid decision” and “provided a relatively low reading”.
Mr Collins said that the defendant is a self-employed bricklayer earning £200 a week and lives with his parents, where he pays £140 a month in keep.
Magistrates imposed a 12-month disqualification from driving and told him to pay a £200 fine. He must all pay costs and a surcharge.
