A 20-year-old drink-driver from Exeter who crashed into a pub then turned himself into police has been banned from getting behind the wheel after appearing in court.
A student crashed into a Wetherspoons pub while over the legal alcohol limit, a court was told, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
Frasier Dare, of Dinham Crescent, St David’s, Exeter, crashed into the Imperial pub on February 11 this year.
The court was told that security staff saw the 20-year-old speeding down New North Road, with his girlfriend and two other passengers.
He then crashed into the pub’s metal fencing, and the wheels of his red Citroen mounted a brick wall.
As the passengers fled, Dare tried to reverse the car. Upon failing to do so, he grabbed his keys and ran from the scene. A police search revealed an open bottle of vodka and cans of alcohol in the vehicle.
Officers attended Dare’s address and spoke to his mother and sister. The court heard his sister had received a message from him admitting he had been drink-driving.
Just before midnight, the defendant handed himself in at Exeter Police Station. He said he had no memory of the incident, but corrected officers when they said he crashed into a wall, noting that it was actually a fence.
The communications student has no previous convictions and was working as a delivery driver before this offence.
Dare pleaded guilty to the offence.
In mitigation, Dare’s lawyer noted he was still grappling with a close familial bereavement.
“At the time of the incident he was drinking a lot more than he normally would,” he said.
“He panicked, he wasn’t thinking.”
Magistrates banned Dare from the road for 20 months, and imposed a fine of £120, reduced from £180 due to his early guilty plea.
He must also pay a surcharge of £48 and costs of £85.
