Ashfield businessman crashed his car because he had been crying after visiting relatives' graves

Anthony Wright was arrested after his car hit a kerb and the front wheel fell on Boxing Day, December 26, after he had paid a visit to a cemetery in Huthwaite, Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday, February 10.

The 62-year-old, of Carnarvon Grove, Sutton, blew 117mg of alcohol to 100ml of breath at the roadside - meaning he was more than three times over the limit - but when he was taken to Mansfield Police station he failed to provide a specimen on four separate occasions.

Wright admitted failing to provide a specimen when he appeared before the court.

Defending, Derek Brown said that Wright ran his own accident and recovery business, which had suffered because of the Covid pandemic and was stressed because he’s had to lay-off staff.

He added that Wright had been unable to give a specimen because he was suffering from a panic attack after he was arrested.

“On the day in question, he had been to visit his parents’ graves and he had also gone to visit the grave of his wife on the same day and he’d had quite a lot to drink,” he said.

Jazz Mahal, from the Probation Service, told the court that the father-of-four had suffered around £30,000 of losses due to the coronavirus.

She said: “He said that the reason he had crashed the car was because he had been crying and this had impaired his vision. Prior to this, he had been drinking red wine and port, with it being Christmas time.

“He decided to go and visit his parents’ grave in Huthwaite and also drove around three miles to visit the grave of his late wife. He said that he had been suffering from panic attacks.”

District Judge Leo Pyle banned Wright for three years, fined him £576 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £58 victim surcharge.

Sentencing, he said: “You have a responsibility to the wider public, and if you drive in that state, you’re not going to be able to do so to the same standard than if you were stone-cold sober.”

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