Five bad drivers in North Staffordshire’s courts this week

Here are the latest cases from the region's courts: TRENT VALE: Twenty-one-year-old student Joel Panakal has been banned from the roads for 18 months after he was caught drink-driving. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard police were called to a road traffic collision in Mayne Street, Hanford, at 4am on December 30.

Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: "The defendant had collided with some railings, a bin and some road furniture. The police attended and the defendant immediately identified himself as the driver. He was taken to the police station."

Panakal answered no comment to all questions in his police interview. But he was breathalysed and gave a reading of 71 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than twice the legal limit of 35. Panakal, of Leawood Road, Trent Vale, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Neil O'Driscoll, mitigating, said Panakal, who has no previous convictions, is studying electrical engineering and wants to become an electrician. Mr O'Driscoll said: "One of his friends was poorly and he stupidly got into the car and drove and the accident happened. It was a one-off incident.

He was in a predicament. He is going to live to regret what he has done. He is doing a three year course and at the end of it you need your car if you want to do the job as an electrician." Magistrates fined Panakal GBP120 and ordered him to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP48 surcharge.

His ban will be reduced by 18 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course. WERRINGTON: Forty-year-old Bryn Bloor has been hit with a 38 month driving ban. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail told North Staffordshire Justice Centre a police sergeant was at the Esso Garage in Leek New Road, Sneyd Green [1], at 4am on December 21 when he noticed a man return to a car and heard him ask the driver what type of alcohol he wanted.

Miss Swindail said: "The officer approached the vehicle. The engine was off but the key was in the ignition. He could smell alcohol on the driver's breath.

A roadside breath test was conducted which gave a positive result." It was established that Bloor was not in possession of a driving licence and was not on the insurance policy for the vehicle. He was taken to custody and was breathalysed, giving a reading of 69 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, nearly twice the legal limit of 35.

Bloor, of Ash Bank Road, Werrington [2], who has previous convictions for drink-driving, pleaded guilty to drink-driving; driving without a licence and driving without insurance. Paige Morgan, mitigating, said Bloor had been drinking the night before and thought he was ok to drive the next day but wasn't. Magistrates fined Bloor GBP140 and ordered him to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP56 surcharge.

His ban will be reduced by 38 weeks if he completes the drink-drivers' rehabilitation course. BLURTON: Drink-driver Benjamin Murphy has been banned from the roads for 17 months. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the 21-year-old was breathalysed by police on December 20.

He gave a reading of 66 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, nearly twice the legal limit of 35. Murphy, of Selkirk Court, Poplar Drive, Blurton [3], pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Magistrates fined Murphy GBP308 and ordered him to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP123 surcharge.

His ban will be reduced by 17 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course. MIDDLEPORT: Drink-driver Victoria Downes has been banned from the roads for 12 months. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the 48-year-old got in her car to drive around the estate after a row with her partner.

Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said police attended Wessex Court in Middleport [4] at 3am on December 21 due to an unrelated matter. Miss Swindail said: "Police were informed the defendant had driven away intoxicated from the property. Police found the vehicle parked in a nearby street.

Downes was walking away from the vehicle. She was asked to provide a roadside breath test. She refused.

She was arrested. She was taken to custody where she provided a sample of breath with a reading of 55 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35." Downes told police she had drunk wine the night before and had fallen asleep.

She awoke at 2am and argued with her partner. She said she left the address and drove around the estate. Downes, of Wessex Court, Sunny Bank, Middleport, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Rob Holt, mitigating, said Downes has no previous convictions. He said there are a number of unresolved bereavement issues. Mr Holt said: "On the day in question, having discovered the loss of an old friend, she did not say goodbye to her friend.

She never picked up the messages. She has alcohol issues. She got in the car because of a fall out with her partner.

He had reported her to the police." Magistrates fined Downes GBP80 and ordered her to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP32 surcharge. Her ban will be reduced by 12 weeks if she completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course.

STAFFORD: Thirty-two-year-old Constantin-Adrian Postelnicu has been banned from the roads for 12 months after he was caught drink-driving. The 32-year-old was seen by police to drive the wrong way up Potteries Way, Hanley [5], at 11.30pm on December 24. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail told North Staffordshire Justice Centre: "He was seen driving a black Porsche at the junction with Etruria Road and Potteries Way.

Police saw the vehicle go the wrong way up Potteries Way heading towards oncoming traffic. Police were dealing with an unrelated road traffic collision and road closure. They stopped the vehicle and requested a specimen of breath.

It provided a positive result. He was arrested and taken to custody. He provided a further sample of breath which provided a reading of 48 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35."

Postelnicu, of Abbots Walk, Stafford [6], pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Representing himself, Postelnicu said: "I got a call saying my girl was very, very sick and could I come. i am a lorry driver. I am sorry, I am really sorry."

Magistrates fined Postelnicu GBP80 and ordered him to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP32 surcharge.

His ban will be reduced by 12 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course.

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References

^ Sneyd Green (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Werrington (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Blurton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Middleport (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Hanley (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Stafford (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ COURT AND CRIME NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email (data.reachplc.com)
^ alerts direct to your inbox (data.reachplc.com)