'Fast and furious' drunk-driver sent to prison

Thursday 16 August 2018

A 30-year-old man whose blood alcohol level was almost two-and-a-half times the legal level, and who later crashed his car injuring one of his passengers, has been sent to prison for 11 months and been banned from driving for three years

Appearing in the Magistrate’s Court, Darren Gray also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest, for which he received a week in prison, to be served at the same time as his other sentence.

The Court was told that around 21:00 on Wednesday 23 May numerous witnesses contacted the police after having seen a green Ford Fiesta being driven in what they described as a dangerous manner between First Tower and West Hill.

One witness described the driving as being erratic, fast, and furious, and having seen the car cross the central reservation. Another said the driver was clearly out of control and said the car was travelling in a snake-like fashion. And yet another claimed the car mounted the pavement, and that if it had happened earlier it was likely they’d have been run over.

Police arrested Gray after he crashed into a low granite wall at West Hill. It’s claimed he became abusive and aggressive, and that he kicked and head butted the police van. He was later taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries. There were two passengers in the car, one of whom suffered a broken collar bone.

Initially the Court discussed whether the incident was too serious to be heard by the Magistrate’s Court and should in fact go to the Royal Court. In the end Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris, decided although it was very serious, that had to be balanced against a number of other factors including the fact that the accused had come to Court with the expectation of being sentenced and that a Royal Court hearing could result in the judgement being put off for a considerable amount of time.

Passing sentence Assistant Magistrate told Gray that it was “difficult to describe how bad the driving was”, and referring to the pedestrians, that it was a “miracle that there was no injury amongst the third parties."