Chef Ross Colthup crashed after drinking at his pub event. He received a ban and fine for drunk driving in Maidstone.
A colleague who followed him from the pub witnessed the crash. The colleague then called their boss, who arrived with his mother-in-law. As the situation escalated, they told Colthup to leave, and the mother-in-law drove him back to the pub.
Police later found him at the pub on Sutton Road and charged him with drunk driving. Colthup admitted the crime in court on January 31 in Maidstone. His blood alcohol was very high, registering 200 milligrams per 100 ml, far exceeding the legal limit of 80.
He drank at The Plough pub event. Someone saw him sleeping upstairs later, then driving. The colleague witnessed Colthup hit the car, and the boss and his mother-in-law ultimately decided to drive Colthup back to the pub.
Colthup had no prior criminal record. The guidelines suggested a driving ban of 17 to 22 months. Colthup expressed embarrassment and apologized for his crime, stating he still works as a chef and earns around £1,200-£1,500 monthly, adding he could manage to get to work.
The judge fined him £334 and banned him from driving for 17 months. She acknowledged his early guilty plea, and also noted he caused a crash. He must also pay a £133 victim surcharge with £85 in court costs.
He will pay £50 each month. If he takes a driving rehabilitation course, the ban could be reduced by 17 weeks next January.