Search for
Search for
Search forDrink-driver who had toddler in car is jailed by court
Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 23:00
Peter Thorpe, 28, of Fairview Close, Tiverton, yesterday pleaded guilty at Exeter Magistrates' Court to driving while drunk and disqualified. He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance.
The court heard that Thorpe was spotted driving erratically on the B3181 towards Exeter at about 10.35am on Monday.
He was pulled over by police and asked to provide a breath sample.
He failed the roadside test and two further tests conducted at Exeter Police Station.
The lowest reading was 92 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
Prosecutor Alison Jordan said: "He fully admitted the offence during interview. He told officers he thought his disqualification was for two years, not three."
Thorpe's 18-month-old child and former partner were in the vehicle at the time of the offence.
He was on his way to visit his 14-month-old daughter.
The court heard that Thorpe had his licence taken away in 2002 for drink driving and he was banned for three years in 2006 for the same offence.
He was given a 12-month community order earlier this month for burglary.
Peter Seigne said in mitigation that Thorpe was under a lot of strain due to the breakdown of his family.
The court heard that before his latest offence, Thorpe approached his doctor for help.
"He referred himself to his GP before he was due in court because he was clearly struggling with his consumption of alcohol," said Mr Seigne.
"He remains an alcoholic and absolutely desperate to get help.
"I'm urging you to give him another chance. He's a man with massive problems, family issues and issues with alcohol. All of those problems are not going to be solved at the flick of a switch.
"It is accepted that these offences are serious enough to justify a custodial sentence. However, if he goes to prison there will be no rehabilitation element to his sentence.
"That will mean the problems he has with alcohol will not be covered. I would ask you not to send him to prison today but to impose a sentence which means he can maintain his liberty and get the help he needs."
Chairman of the bench Jacqui Edwards sentenced Thorpe to eight weeks in prison.
"The reasons for this sentence are your previous convictions, the potential harm to the child in the car and the fact that this offence was committed so soon after a community order was imposed," she said.
Thorpe was also banned from driving for three-and-a-half years.
