Policeman caught twice the drink-drive limit keeps his licence
Newly-qualified policeman, 31, who was caught at twice the drink-drive limit after his work Christmas party is allowed to keep his licence after a judge heard he had lost his job and thrown his career ‘down the drain’
- Andrew Pearce, a BTP officer, was caught twice the drink-drive limit in December
- The newly qualified officer had enjoyed a police Christmas party when caught
- Pearce, 31, of Fleet, Hampshire, faced a gross misconduct hearing but resigned
- Judge Timothy Pattinson showed leniency allowing Pearce to keep his licence
A newly-qualified policeman caught twice the drink-drive limit after his work Christmas party has been allowed to keep his licence after a judge took pity on him.
Andrew Pearce, a British Transport Police officer, lost his job and saw his promising career end in disgrace when he was caught behind the wheel intoxicated.
However District Judge Timothy Pattinson opted to show leniency on Pearce in light of the already significant punishment by allowing him to retain his driving licence.
Andrew Pearce, a British Transport Police officer, lost his job and saw his promising career end in disgrace when he was caught behind the wheel intoxicated. However District Judge Timothy Pattinson at Basingstoke Magistrates’ opted to show leniency on Pearce in light of the already significant punishment by allowing him to retain his driving licence
Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court heard the 31-year-old was found sitting in his car at a train station with his headlights on and using the heater to clear frost from the windscreen as he prepared to drive home in the early hours of December 13.
Pearce was breathalysed by officers from Hampshire Police and found to have 61 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35mg.
Judge Pattinson was told that when Pearce was arrested by officers he told them he was a British Transport policeman.
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The judge heard that Pearce, who had just finished his training as a policeman, faced a gross misconduct hearing following the offence but resigned before the panel sat.
The court heard that he resigned from his new career before it had even begun, after being told no-one had ever kept their job after being charged with such an offence.
Pearce, of Fleet, Hampshire, admitted a charge of drink-driving and confessed to the judge his regret and told how the costly decision to resign had affected him.
Standing in the dock and representing himself, he said: ‘I fully admit it. What the prosecutor said was correct.
‘In terms of the offence it has had quite a big impact already – I’m not working for British Transport Police anymore due to what has happened.
‘It was going to a misconduct hearing and I was advised no-one has kept their job after something like this, so I resigned.
‘I have waited until today to start looking for something else so hopefully I can look for work that is dependent on keeping my licence.
‘I cannot receive benefits as I admitted I resigned before a misconduct hearing, so I couldn’t go on Jobseeker’s Allowance for six months – but I have started looking for work.’
Pearce’s future job prospects were handed a lifeline as he narrowly kept his licence, when Pattinson handed Pearce with 10 penalty points on his licence instead.
Judge Pattinson said: ‘It must be said there was a clear intention to drive here, which is a big factor for the court.
‘I will give you credit for your guilty plea. Quite frankly, this has destroyed your career for you. But I do take into account the personal mitigation here.
‘You had just completed your training and you have thrown your career down the drain. I am going to step back from an immediate disqualification.
‘You have been very, very close to immediate disqualification but I am just persuaded not to.’
He fined Pearce £120 and ordered him to pay £30 court costs.
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