A DRINK driver who was more than three-and-a-half times over the legal limit continued swigging from a bottle of cider in front of police officers after being pulled over, a court heard. Martyn Stewart Hannaford, of Weymouth, had been drinking a 2.5-litre bottle of Omega Cider when he got behind the wheel of a silver BMW on New Year s Day. Prosecutor Andrew Newman told Weymouth Magistrates Court that the 41-year-old was stopped by police in Hawkesworth Close and continued to drink the cider in front of the officers while still behind the wheel of the car. Weymouth Magistrates Court heard Hannaford was more than three-and-a-half times over the legal limit with an alcohol level of 125 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcg.
A DRIVER was more than twice the drink-drive limit when he crashed into a popular Weymouth restaurant – narrowly missing a table full of customers, a court heard. Richard Alan Steel was behind the wheel of a red Ford Focus on Abbotsbury Road on Friday, December 18, 2020. CCTV footage, taken from the nearby Dorset Domestic Appliance store, shows Steel’s vehicle indicate left onto Newstead Road but drive into Sambo Rodizio Bar & Grill at approximately 9.43pm. Steel appeared to exit the vehicle as a taxi stopped at the scene of the collision. Nobody was injured, but the car narrowly missed a table of customers who were seated by the window.
A MAN who drove over 150 miles to visit Lulworth is one of the hundreds of people who have been fined for failing to abide by coronavirus rules. Glenn Goddard, aged 54, visited Lulworth from his home in Hertfordshire during the UK’s first national lockdown on April 12 last year, Weymouth Magistrates Court heard. Goddard pleaded guilty to travelling 154 miles without reasonable excuse during the coronavirus emergency period, to the Dorset beauty spot from his home of Castle Close, Hoddesden. Forces across the UK have broken up parties and meet-ups and fined people for visiting beauty spots despite lockdown rules. Goddard was fined £350, and will have to a victim surcharge of £32, which will have to paid at £20 a month.