A self-employed Carlisle joiner has told a court he is likely to lose his job after being caught drink-driving on his birthday.
Francis Weir had just turned 37, in the early hours of January 15, when a police officer saw a BMW being driven into English Gate Plaza’s car park, behind Botchergate.
Weir was the driver, Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard today, he presented as intoxicated and failed a breath test. He was almost exactly twice the legal limit and very, very apologetic when speaking to police. In court, he admitted a drink-driving charge.
Giving mitigation, Steven Marsh said Weir was a self-employed joiner who worked for the same business five days a week. He collected camper vans from auction and delivered them to customers once they had been converted through this rather niche trade. Driving was the main part of his job.
Weir, of Burnrigg, Carlisle, had no previous criminal convictions and hadn’t been involved in a road traffic collision nor collected a penalty point in 10 years of driving.
He rarely drank alcohol but his birthday was one of the few occasions when he did. He had been out for a meal with his girlfriend and took a taxi home, only to realise her house keys were in his pocket. Unable to make contact with her, and concerned she wouldn’t be able to get in the property, he drove back into Carlisle to meet her.
“His judgement failed him,” said Mr Marsh. “He is obviously quite devastated at the consequences he now finds.” His main employer had indicated Weir’s continued involvement with the company was likely to end if he received a lengthy driving ban — one in the region of 18 months.
After Weir received a 17-month driving ban from magistrates, he responded by saying this was likely to mean the loss of his job — even if he completed a rehabilitation course which cut the length of disqualification by 17 weeks.
He was fined £576 and ordered to pay a £230 mandatory surcharge and £85 costs.
Lead magistrate Keith Southward told Weir: “It is a shame that you have gone all this time without any offence at all and this has happened. You misjudged everything but unfortunately the risks to the public were very high.”
