9:20am Thursday 18th March 2010
By Court Reporter
A HARPENDEN golf club bar manager who almost mowed down police officers while drink driving has been spared jail.
Robert Buchanan was more than three times over the legal drink drive limit, St Albans Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.
The 35-year-old, who was banned from driving for 28 months and given a six-month alcohol treatment requirement, after admitting drink driving and a bail act offence after failing to appear at court, currently lives in a homeless shelter in Hitchin after resigning as bar and food manager at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club in Piggottshill Lane.
The court heard yesterday how Buchanan was driving to the doctors for an appointment associated with his alcoholism when he mounted the pavement on Tuesday, February 2, in Bowers Way, Harpenden.
Officers on mobile patrol saw Buchanan’s green Vauxhall Astra almost hit two officers and two bollards before driving off.
They followed him into a car park and Buchanan admitted being the driver the Astra that had mounted the pavement.
A positive roadside breath test led to the 35-year-old being arrested and taken to Hatfield police station where he blew a reading of 116mg in breath, the legal limit is 35mg.
During mitigation Simon Hancock, defending, said Buchanan had lost his partner and job and not seen his daughter after his partner took the four-year-old away due to his alcoholism.
Mr Hancock said: “There are protracted circumstances leading to this.
“He was on the way to the doctor to get help with his alcoholism.
“For this defendant alcohol is a major problem.
“In January his long term girlfriend decided enough was enough and took their daughter away.
“He has not seen her since. The girlfriend said he won’t until he sobers up.
“It is very much an uphill struggle. It is one day at a time. He has managed two weeks completely sober.
“He used to be the food and beverages manager at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club and held an alcohol licence which allows him to behave like a child would in a Willy Wonka chocolate factory.
“He does not want that licence any more.”
The probation officer described Buchanan as remorseful and the magistrates accepted her recommendation of treatment for alcoholism as part of a 12-month order.
Buchanan’s 28-month driving ban will be reduced by 28 weeks if he completes a drink driver awareness course.
He was ordered to pay £50 towards the prosecution costs due to lack of means.
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