Drink Driving – Community Service Avoided for Serving Officer

Chris Fallows and Jade Halliday-Mitchell successfully represented Mrs. J who was at risk of community service and an alcohol monitoring tag, following a charge of Drink Driving.

In brief, Mrs. J was a serving police officer and drove to the station to commence her shift whilst over the drink drive limit (80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood). The Sentencing Guidelines for Mrs. J’s offence indicated a sentencing range of a low-level community order – a high level community order and a driving disqualification of 23-28 months. Mrs. J was at the top end of this sentencing bracket.

Mrs. J instructed JMW Solicitors to minimise the overall sentence, hoping to avoid community service. Ahead of the hearing, Chris drafted a comprehensive mitigation document and Jade liaised with Mrs. J to compile supporting documentation. At Court, Jade successfully advocated that the Judge on this occasion should deviate from the sentencing guidelines and impose a fine and driving disqualification (reduced by a drink driver course). 

The Judge was persuaded by such submissions, and Mrs. J was sentenced to a high level fine, alongside an ancillary order disqualifying her from driving for 24 months (reduced by 24 weeks should the drink driver course be completed).