Community service for drink-driver who wrote off his Audi

Friday 27 January 2023

A 32-year-old man who wrote off his Audi when he mounted the curb and crashed at Commercial Buildings while more than twice over the legal limit has been handed community service and a driving ban.

Philip Godel was sentenced in the Magistrate's Court this week for the offence - and for being drunk and disorderly two years ago.

The Court heard that he was found to have 81 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when he crashed his car on 20 November.

The front of the car, including the wheels and axle, were extensively damaged.

Laying out the facts of the July 2020 charge for the court, St. Helier Centenier Paul Huelin said that police officers had been carrying out routine checks at St. James’ wine bar that evening when they found Godel intoxicated and unsteady on his feet. When told by an officer to leave the area he refused.

Pictured: Police found Godel intoxicated and unsteady on his feet in the area of St. James Wine Bar, and he refused to leave the area when asked.

"He was swearing and trying to get at the officer but his friends managed to drag him away," Centenier Huelin said.

Advocate Allana Binnie, defending, said Godel "accepts that this is the most serious offence committed to date."

"He made an immediate admission at the scene. He was polite and co-operative. He is ashamed and embarrassed by what he has done," she added.

Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris sentenced him to 90 hours of community service for drink-driving and banned him from driving for 22 months.

He also fined him £250 for being drunk and disorderly, allowing him to pay at the rate of £50 per week, and imposed a nine-month probation order.