Powys Vauxhall Corsa drink driver refused lift from police

Leon Morley, aged 26, was almost three times the drink drive limit when he was arrested by police at his home in Newtown on October 6. Morley, of Llys Afallen, was handed a 12-month community order with 60 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to drink driving at Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, December 5. The factory worker, who only passed his driving test last year, will no longer be able to drive until January 2026 after he received a 25-month disqualification.

OTHER NEWS: Prosecutor Helen Tench told the court that police officers found Morley in New Road, Newtown after receiving a report of a "very intoxicated" man staggering in the road. "He was extremely intoxicated but planned to go home," she said. "He refused a lift stating that he would rather walk."

Police later received another call, just after 10.30am, that a man was seen holding onto barriers in Market Street before driving off in his silver Vauxhall Corsa. Officers arrested Morley at his home in Trehafren and took him to the police station where a breathalyser result revealed he had breath test had 103 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol.

Paul Inns, representing Morley, told the court that the 26-year-old had "somewhat heavily drank" and fell out with a friend the previous night. "That meeting outcome seems to be the catalyst of a downward spiral in his behaviour, I'm afraid," Mr Inns said.

Probation officer Julian Davies added: "He then left to visit another friend, but that friend wasn't there. He was still drunk and didn't know what he was doing. He doesn't know why he didn't take the offer of a lift home when he was offered one by police.

"He tells me that his stupidity got the better of him and he needs to make changes in his life. He says he tends to drink alcohol mainly on weekends and tends to binge drinks which he wants to change because he knows it can be problematic." Chair of the magistrates' bench Cynthia McVey ordered Morley to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days for advice and guidance with alcohol and problem solving as part of his 12-month community order.

He must also pay a GBP114 victim surcharge and GBP85 prosecution costs.