A chef has been banned from driving after he hit a parked car following a day of drinking at the pub he worked at.
Ross Colthup crashed his Audi A4 into an unoccupied vehicle in Leeds Road, Maidstone, in June last year after leaving The Plough in Langley where he was employed.
A court heard he had been followed from the family-run pub in Sutton Valence by one of his colleagues who had left the venue at about the same time as Colthup.
He saw the crash happen and called their boss who arrived at the scene with his mother-in-law.
His boss decided Colthup should leave as interactions were “getting heated” so his mother-in-law drove the 27-year-old to the pub.
He was later found by police at the Sutton Road venue and charged with drink driving.
Colthup, of Soleshill Road, Chilham, admitted the offence when he appeared before Deputy District Judge Emma Greenwood at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on January 31.
The court heard when given a blood test he gave a reading of 200 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit is 80.
Elizabeth Evans, prosecuting, said: “It was June 29 and at the time he worked at The Plough Inn in Langley and there was an event (at the pub). A witness said the defendant had been there for the event and consuming beers throughout the day. Later, he went upstairs to lie down.”
But a short time later, the court heard Colthup was spotted driving past the pub in his black Audi A4 as another employee left the venue.
The prosecutor added: “The other person (the other employee) was driving behind him and saw him crash into a parked car.
“He got out to help him (Colthup) out of the vehicle and a neighbour came to see what was going on.
“The witness then called his boss and he and his mother-in-law drove to the location. They then made the decision, because the interaction at the scene was getting heated, that he should leave and the mother-in-law drove him back to the pub.
“He has no previous convictions and the sentencing guidelines say he should be banned for between 17 and 22 months.”
Colthup, who wasn’t legally represented during the hearing was then asked by Judge Greenwood if he had anything to say about his crime.
He said: “I am embarrassed to be here and I am sorry for the offence I committed.
“I am still employed as a chef and I earn between £1,500 and £1,200 a month and I will still be able to get to work (without a licence).”
Judge Greenwood told him because he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had no previous convictions she could issue him with a fine for the offence.
She added: “The aggravating factor is you had a collision but I give you full credit for your early plea.”
As a result, she fined him £334 for the offence and also banned him from the road for 17 months.
Colthup was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £133 and £85 court costs and will pay what he owes the court at a rate of £50 a month.
If he completes a drink driving course by January 2, next year, his ban will be reduced by 17 weeks.
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