A drink-driver who crashed his car after deciding to move it to avoid a parking ticket admits he made “a stupid mistake”.
Dad-of-three Krishna Thapa was parked illegally in Ashford town centre as he enjoyed a beer on January 27.
But he says he then took the foolish decision to drive the Vauxhall Corsa to a space where he would not face a fine.
It proved to be a reckless move as just moments later the 46-year-old failed to stop at a junction and collided with another vehicle.
Police were called to the scene and Thapa, of Sussex Avenue, Ashford, failed a breathalyser test.
He was arrested and charged and appeared before magistrates in Folkestone on February 12.
Terry Knox, prosecuting, told the court: “He was driving in Ashford on the ring-road and got to the Albert Road petrol station junction, but he didn’t stop and collided with a car.
“He was asked [by the other driver] if he’d been drinking and said he’d had one beer. The police then arrived and [Thapa] confirmed he’d had one beer.”
After failing the roadside breathalyser, Thapa was taken back to the police station and re-tested, giving a reading of 54 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of his breath – the legal limit is 35.
The prosecutor added: “The offence is aggravated by the fact he had a road traffic collision.”
Simon Pettican, defending, told magistrates his client had made a “stupid mistake”.
He added: “He’s got three kids and is married and his wife doesn’t drive.
“He was of previous good character up until minutes ago (when he pleaded guilty), and he made a stupid mistake.
“He was parked in a place where there were parking penalties and he realised the car was in the wrong place, so drove it round the corner to park it legally.”
Thapa admitted drink-driving and was banned from the road for 14 months and fined £120.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £48 and £85 court costs.
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