Drink-driver wrecks prized Lambourn garden

'Loud bang' woke household

A DRINK-driver lost control of his van in Lambourn, careering into a garden and wrecking it.

Peter Harvey awoke in the early hours to find his prized raspberry canes had been sent flying, bushes had been uprooted and his back garden fence was demolished.

In the dock at West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 18, was 22-year-old William McWilliam of Finches Lane, Baydon.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said: “Police attended the Upper Lambourn area around 1.30am following reports of suspicious activity. When they got to the Malt Shovel pub they saw a white Ford Transit van drive straight past them. They turned around to pursue it into Lambourn.

“At the ‘S’ bend by the British Legion the van didn’t make the bend and went straight through a fence and into Mr Harvey’s rear garden. He was woken by a loud bang.”

She added: “He knew instantly what had happened because it had happened before. His garden was in a bit of a mess.”

Mr McWilliam initially panicked and ran, the court heard, but when officers detained him he made “full and frank admissions”, admitting to having drunk several glasses of wine.

Tests subsequently showed 47mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system. The legal limit is 35mcg.

He admitted driving after drinking more than the legal limit on January 30.

Representing himself, Mr McWilliam told the court: “Mr Harvey’s insurers have been in touch with me and they are making a claim against my insurance.

“This was out of character for me.

“It was a very silly thing to have done and now, unfortunately, I have to face the consequences.”

Presiding magistrate Tony Ayres told Mr McWilliam: “This is going to be very expensive for you I’m afraid, and it will have implications for your job which, I’m sure, is the most important thing for you.”

Mr McWilliam was fined £300 and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge plus £85 costs.

He was banned from driving for 14 months.