Mr.Simon Thorp from Rustington has just found out how driving under the influence of alcohol can have a devastating effect on your life. Mr. Thorp had a job as a gritter lorry driver but has now lost this job along with his driving licence. After pleading guilty to driving with an excess of alcohol in his system at Worthing Magistrates’ Court, he received his 12 month driving ban.
Because of the sentence imposed, Mr. Thorp obviously couldn’t do his job anymore and this has caused a headache for Worthing Council who had only a few gritter lorry drivers at the time. The council will have their work cut out trying to solve this issue especially with the really bad weather that has been around recently.
Mr. Thorp had said that he had spent the day in question at a Remembrance Sunday event in Worthing as his serviceman father had died earlier in the year. He had left his car parked on the main road in Surrey Street but when he met friends he went to the pub and had three pints. Although he got the bus home, he decided to go back and move his car from the main road. Police decided to stop the car and breathalyse Mr. Thorp as they were slightly suspicious due to the number of people in the car. The reading on the breathalyser was too low so the police decided to do a blood test on Mr. Thorp down at the station and the result of that showed that he was over the legal limit by 14mg.
As well as losing his driving licence and his job, Mr. Thorp was also fined £100 and had to pay £55 court costs and a victim surcharge of £15. However due to the fact that Mr. Thorp had been driving his lorry for the last 20 years and could not read or write, the district judge Roger Ede told him that he could have his ban reduced by three months if he completed a Drivewise course.
If you are looking for a driving related job, any potential employer is well withing their right to do official checks to the type of license you hold . Driving licence is an issue you should take care about. Make sure you always hold the appropriate driving license before applying for a particular driving job.