Drink driving is something we all know can wreck lives but Simon Thorp of Rustington has just experienced how bad an effect it can have. Mr. Thorp’s job as a gritter lorry driver has now been lost as well as his driving licence. After pleading guilty to driving with an excess of alcohol in his system at Worthing Magistrates’ Court, he received his 12 month driving ban.
Mr. Thorp was one of only a handful of gritter lorry drivers at Worthing Council and his driving ban has meant that it is no longer possible for him to do his job causing a worry for the council. The council will have their work cut out trying to solve this issue especially with the really bad weather that has been around recently.
Mr. Thorp had said that he had spent the day in question at a Remembrance Sunday event in Worthing as his serviceman father had died earlier in the year. He parked his car on the side of the main road in Surrey Street and when he met up with friends he decided to go to the pub where he told officers he had three pints. Even though he decided to get the bus home he made the ill fated decision to return later to move his car as it was parked on the side of the main road. Police who stopped Mr. Thorp and breathalysed him did so as there were so many passagengers in the car. Police decided to take Mr. Thorp to the station for a blood test as the results on the breathalyser were too low and this showed that the amount of alcohol in his system was over the legal limit by 14mg.
Not only did Mr. Thorp have to face a one year driving ban, but he also had to pay a fine of £100 and charges of £70 for court costs and a victim surcharge. However due to the fact that Mr. Thorp had been driving his lorry for the last 20 years and could not read or write, the district judge Roger Ede told him that he could have his ban reduced by three months if he completed a Drivewise course.
It doesn’t matter what driving license you hold, if you are looking for a job that entails driving your future employers may want to check you have a license . Driving licence verification is something that should be taken seriously. Make sure you always hold the appropriate driving license before applying for a particular driving job.
