A Carlisle man caught drink-driving as he and a passenger took a moped for a test drive has been sentenced by magistrates.
It was on August 8 that a PC on traffic patrol saw 43-year-old Daniel Krzeczkowski on Fusehill Street in the city. Krzeczkowski was riding a red Peugeot moped with a male pillion passenger. Neither were wearing helmets.
On seeing the officer, the rider appeared to try and evade being stopped, prosecutor Pam Ward told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court.
But the PC followed and eventually pulled him over in an alleyway behind Broad Street.
Krzeczkowski smelled heavily of alcohol, co-operated at the roadside and provided a positive test. The lower of two further evidential readings showed 54 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath — above the 35mcg legal limit.
In court, he admitted drink-driving and having no insurance.
Mitigation was provided by solicitor John Smith, who told how factory worker Krzeczkowski’s hours had been reduced. He owned the moped, which hadn’t been in use.
“He decided to try and get it running to see if it was worth repairing so he could sell it. Financially he is on a reduced income,” said Mr Smith. But Krzeczkowski had been drinking earlier in the day.
The moped was believed to have been seized by police. Yet Mr Smith said the estimated cost of release was greater than its £100 value and so it was not worth doing.
Krzeczkowski, of Howard Place, Carlisle, was fined £120 plus costs, and was handed a 14-month driving ban. However, he was offered the chance to attend a rehabilitation course which, if completed, would reduce the disqualification period by 14 weeks.
