Man found passed out in driver’s seat jailed for drink driving

Wednesday, 31 May 2023 01:00

A man from Basingstoke has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of drink driving over the Bank Holiday weekend. Steven Whatmore, 40, of Ferndown Close, appeared before Swindon Magistrates' Court yesterday (29/05) and pleaded guilty to the charges.

The incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon when concerned motorists reported a Transit van being driven erratically on the A303 near Willoughby Hedge, suspecting that the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol. Shortly after, another report came in stating that the same vehicle had crashed into a fence on Ivy Place in Salisbury, causing damage and a punctured tire. Instead of stopping at the scene, the van fled.

Officers from Team 5 Amesbury and Salisbury were immediately dispatched to search for the van. Shortly after, another report was received indicating that the van had been spotted on Phillips Lane, where it was seen weaving across the road, with the tire now completely shredded and detached.

The search led the officers to Beehive Park and Ride, where they discovered the van with Steven Whatmore, a disqualified driver, passed out in the driver's seat. After failing a breathalyzer test, he was arrested and taken into custody. Subsequent breath samples revealed that his alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit.

Whatmore faced multiple charges, including drink driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, careless driving, and using a vehicle in a dangerous condition. He pleaded guilty to all the charges levelled against him. As a result, he received a 12-week prison sentence and was banned from driving for four-and-a-half years.

This case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of drink driving and the dangers it poses to both the driver and other road users. The swift actions of the police in apprehending the offender demonstrate their commitment to maintaining road safety and enforcing the law.

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