A Pembroke Dock man who went out to pick up two takeaway roast dinners for himself and his housebound wife has admitted a drink-driving offence in court.
Sixty-four-year-old Clive Ernald Cook, of Park Street, pleaded guilty to driving his VW Golf on Pembroke Dock’s Law Street, after exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol, when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told magistrates that a reading of 45 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, was recorded after Mr. Cook’s arrest.
“A report was made to police after Mr. Cook went into a brasserie in Pembroke Dock to pick up a food order.
“The person serving could smell alcohol on the defendant’s breath and he was slurring his speech.
“He got into his VW Golf and and police carried out a search and attended Mr. Cook’s home address,” she explained.
When spoken to by officers shortly after 3 pm, Mr. Cook was asked if he’d been drinking and he admitted he’d had some alcohol that morning.
Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told the court that it was a shame that this gentleman who was soon to be 65 should come before the court as he was of clean character.
“His wife is not in good health, following a breakdown some years ago, and has spiralled into worse depression and is housebound.
“Mr. Cook who is retired finds himself as her carer. He had consumed six to eight rum and lemonades the night before at home, knowing he didn’t have to drive anywhere the next day.
“He had a drink the next morning, and he and his wife decided it would be nice to have a Sunday dinner, so went down to the brasserie, with plates to pick up the food order.
“The long and short of it is that it is excess alcohol from the night before with a small amount consumed that morning, which maybe tipped him over the edge,” added Mr. Webb.
Magistrates disqualified Mr. Cook from driving for 12 months and fined him £120 for the offence.
He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.