Alfreton drink-driver is banned after crashing car

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Tuesday, January 19, how Rolf Beard, 43, of North Street, Newton, Alfreton, crashed on Tibshelf Road, Holmewood, after he had overtaken a witness at speed.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “A witness said she was driving towards Holmewood when Beard passed her going considerably faster and his vehicle went out of view and she heard a bang.

“She then saw the vehicle had completed a roll and come to rest in a hedge.”

The witness alerted police, according to Mrs Allsop, and she and another person helped Beard.

Beard told police he had been drinking wine and brandy with his brother the night before the crash on December 27, last year, and thought he would have been okay to drive.

He also explained he had been in a rush and the road had been damp when he lost control.

Beard pleaded guilty to exceeding the alcohol drink-drive limit after recording 54microgrammes of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 35microgrammes.

Defence solicitor David Gittins said: “He has been working in security at Temple Normanton and his employer knows he will lose his driving licence for this offence and because he won’t be able to get to work they have terminated his employment.

“He had been drinking with his brother the night before the incident but had stopped at 10pm thinking that after a ten hour gap he would have been safe to drive.

“He made a mistake and it was a stupid thing.”

Magistrates fined Beard £150 and ordered him to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

He was also banned from driving for 16 months.