A carer was caught drink driving in Swindon. He blew nearly double the limit at a Shell garage after fleeing police.
Someone saw Booy driving badly on Marlborough Road around 4 AM. Police tried to approach his Mercedes. He then drove away quickly. The police couldn’t chase him because they weren’t trained for pursuits.
They saw Booy parked ten minutes after at the Shell gas station. Booy had too much alcohol in his breath; the reading was nearly double the limit. His reading was 68, while the legal limit is just 35. He has no prior record though.
Booy’s lawyer spoke for him in court, stating that Booy came from South Africa and works in the care industry, where his skills are in high demand. His job requires driving to patients, and he lost his job due to this.
He needs a new job by August to renew his Visa. New Year’s was the reason for his drinks, and he usually is the designated driver. He doesn’t often drink alcohol.
He drank at a friend’s house that night, and his last drink was late, near 1 AM. He thought enough time would pass and that he’d be okay to drive later.
Booy miscalculated the waiting time. He “panicked” when police stopped him, driving to the garage to escape. The judge knew about his good character and his important job.
The judge warned about drunk driving dangers, stating that it can cause bad injuries or even deaths. She saw the big impact of a ban, noting that carers are very important right now.
Despite this, she banned him from driving for twelve months. More convictions will end his career and might end his stay in the UK.
The court also fined Booy £250. He also needs to pay a £100 surcharge and £85 for court costs.