Reading Magistrates’ Court: Solicitor quarrels with magistrates over drink-drive ban after motorist caught ‘staggering’ in Thatcham following renegade Brewery visit

A DRINK-driver nearly fell from his car following a West Berkshire brewery visit, a court heard.

Members of the public were so concerned at the state of him that they called police.

But Jordan Hallewell initially pleaded not guilty to an alcohol-related offence.

And, even after he was banned from driving, his solicitor remonstrated with magistrates, calling his two-year driving ban excessive.

Jennifer Mitchell, prosecuting, said police were alerted by the public to a “clearly intoxicated” man getting into his car after leaving Renegade Brewery in Yattendon.

She added: “Police located the parked car in Everington Lane, Thatcham, with the headlights and engine on and the defendant sat in the driver’s seat, smelling strongly of alcohol.

“He was stumbling and nearly fell out of the vehicle.”

The 32-year-old, self-employed security engineer was arrested and taken to a police station... where things began to go wrong.

Instead of blowing into the breathalyser as instructed, Mr Hallewell, who lives at Stonehouse, Lower Basildon, began sucking on it, the court heard.

When reminded to blow, he gave short puffs such that the machine deemed the test a failure, said Ms Mitchell.

Mr Hallewell initially denied failing to provide a specimen of breath when required on Thursday, March 16.

But he subsequently changed his mind and admitted the offence.

Jayotis Lemosa, defending, pointed out that his client was a man of previous good character.

Despite the prosecution case, to which Mr Hallewell pleaded guilty, he maintained there was “no evidence of impairment”.

He pointed out that his client had insisted to police officers: “I’m trying my best.”

Mr Lemosa added: “However, he doesn’t want to drag it out or play games.”

He went on: “He changed his plea because there were issues around whether the procedure was conducted correctly.

“But an ex police officer who specialises in this area looked at [CCTV footage of the procedure] and decided there was no issue with it.”

Magistrates imposed a two-year driving ban and fined Mr Hallewell £270.

In addition, they ordered him to pay £85 costs, plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £108.

Within five minutes, however, Mr Lemosa was back and asking magistrates to reconsider the two-year ban.

He said he was “taken aback” by it because there had been no evidence his client had been impaired.

Magistrates reminded him of the prosecution account to which Mr Hallewell had pleaded guilty, including the fact that he was reportedly staggering and had stumbled from the car.

They insisted that their sentence would stand and invited Mr Lemosa to appeal it at the crown court if he wished.