‘An absolute mistake!’ Joining pal in pub costs Horncastle man driving licence, £1,200 and possibly his job

A motorist who crashed his truck into a parked vehicle whilst more than twice the legal drink-drive limit has been banned from the roads for almost four years.

Roy Knowles stopped off for a drink after realising a friend was in a nearby pub, an ‘absolute mistake’ that also cost him £1,205.

The 54-year-old may also lose his job as a roads surfacing supervisor, telling magistrates ‘I’ll find out on Friday’.

Prosecutor Lottie Tyler told Boston Magistrates that Knowles’ Fiat Fullback collided with a stationary vehicle on the junction of South Street and The Wong in Horncastle just before 6pm on October 11.

“He failed a roadside breath test and later gave a reading of 78 micrograms (per 100 ml of breath) at the police station,” she said.

The legal limit is 35mcg.

Ms Tyler added that Knowles had previously received a 20-month ban for drink driving in 2017.

Defending himself, Knowles said he’d been to the town’s Co-op store before spotting a friend’s car parked nearby and decided to join him for a drink.

“I thought I’d go see him in the pub,” he said.

“I’d not seen him for a long time and decided to have a couple of pints with him.

“It was an absolute mistake.

“I don’t have a problem with alcohol. I should never have gone and I know that.”

Knowles, of Steve Newton Avenue, Horncastle, pleaded guilty to drink driving.

He received a 43 month ban from the roads which could be reduced by 43 weeks if he completes a drink-driver rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £800 and ordered to pay a £320 victim surcharge and £85 costs.