Three more drink drivers named and shamed

THREE more drink-drivers caught in the summer crackdown have been sentenced – two of them shopped to the police by members of the public.

They are the latest to be named and shamed after the police and Grimsby Telegraph campaign aimed at stamping out drink-driving.

A total of 35 drivers have been featured in the newspaper and online at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/drinkdrivers during the campaign.

The latest to be included are:

Peter Crabb (40), of Sidney Way, Cleethorpes, who admitted drink-driving, having no insurance and driving with the wrong class of licence on August 31.

Charles Cook (69), of Stephen Crescent, Humberston, who admitted drink-driving on August 9.

Danielle Menarin (27), of Fenby Close, Grimsby, who admitted drink-driving on August 15.

Former teacher, Menarin, who has a previous conviction for drink-driving, was visibly shaking when she came before district judge Daniel Curtis for sentence.

She had pleaded guilty after being caught over the limit for a second time by an off duty policeman – and knew she was facing a prison sentence.

The court heard she had driven to the Co-op on St Nicholas Drive – which is about 200-300 yards from her home – after drinking a 'significant amount' of alcohol.

She was followed into the car park by the off-duty officer, but her driving did not appear to be impaired, and he only became concerned after hearing staff at the store say she appeared to have been drinking.

He followed her out to the car park, and watched her climb into her Ford Escort and prepare to drive off, before reaching in, grabbing her keys and calling the police.

A subsequent breath test revealed she had 152mcg of alcohol in 100ml. The legal limit is 35mcg.

She was spared jail by Mr Curtis, after he heard she had become dependant on alcohol following a 'dreadful period of her life'.

Mitigating, Robert Wressell, said Menarin had suffered a close bereavement, developed eating disorders, depression and left her job at a local college because of her drink problem.

Passing a sentence of two months in prison, suspended for 18 months, Mr Curtis was keen to emphasise these were exceptional circumstances, which could not be addressed with a prison sentence.

He also banned Menarin from driving for five years, with an 18 month supervision order and six months treatment for alcohol dependency.

She must also pay £60 costs.

In another case, Brendan Woodward, prosecuting, told Grimsby magistrates that Peter Crabb drove a Land Rover to a party after drinking but later abandoned the car in the Bradley Road area after it suffered a flat tyre.

The police were alerted by a bus driver and later by a concerned member of the public.

A breath test revealed he had 141mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, about four times over the legal limit of 35mcg.

Nick Furman, mitigating, said Crabb had "quite a lot to drink" at the party before driving again.

His driving did not appear to have been bad and there was no accident after he left the party.

"What he did was extremely foolish," said Mr Furman.

He added that it was an isolated incident. Crabb had been at a "low ebb" after the breakdown of his relationship earlier this year.

Crabb was given a four-month suspended prison sentence and 200 hours' unpaid work.

He was also fined £413, banned from driving for three years and must pay £60 costs and a Government-imposed £15 victims' surcharge.

In a separate case, pensioner Charles Cook fell foul of the police after a tip-off, the court heard.

Dennis Aisthorpe, prosecuting, said police received a report about a possible drink-driver at 5.45pm.

Cook's car was parked in Wellowgate, Grimsby, and he was followed to Abbey Road, where he was stopped.

A blood test revealed he had 99mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Cook told the court: "I have been driving for nearly 50 years. I have never been in trouble and have never had a speeding ticket or a parking fine. I have an unblemished record.

"I don't normally drink-drive. I was very surprised I was over the limit.

"It won't happen again," he said.

Cook was fined £210, banned from driving for a year and must pay £60 costs and a Government-imposed £15 victims' surcharge.

PC John Mallett, Casualty Reduction Officer at Humberside Police, said: "The summer drink drive campaign has been extremely successful, and that has been largely down to members of the public who have provided us with information.

"I would urge anybody with information about drink-drivers to contact police on 0845 6060 222, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."