A teenager who was caught drink-driving after he stuck his middle finger up to police officers has been banned from the roads.
Daniel Williams was travelling home from the pub in his blue Fiat Punto car in the early hours of the morning when he made the offensive gesture.
The 18-year-old was pulled over in Surrey where he told officers he had been drinking, and was found to be nearly twice the legal alcohol limit.
He had 68 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 milligrammes.
Daniel Williams, 18, was caught drink-driving after he stuck his middle finger up to police officers and banned from the roads
‘This is a rather unfortunate matter from Mr Williams’ point of view,’ prosecutor Tim Concannon told magistrates.
‘It was 3.15 in the morning and two officers were on duty in a marked police car. They noticed a blue Fiat Punto travelling along and as they overtook, they saw the driver sticking a middle finger up.
‘Not the wisest thing to do at that point of the morning and it had predictable results.’
Williams’ step-father sat in the public gallery as his blond-haired son, wearing a grey suit and red tie, stood behind the glass fronted dock at Staines Magistrates’ Court to admit to one count of drink-driving.
The hospitality worker was at a pub in Surrey on April 10 and drank three pints of alcohol before getting behind the wheel to drive along the A3.
‘It is an unfortunate incident and I would say that it is very out of character for my client to behave in this way,’ his lawyer Caroline Oldrey said.
‘He is a young man of good character and he loses that today. He can’t explain what possessed him to, firstly, get behind the wheel and, secondly, to make the gesture to the police.
‘He has no problems with the police at all and has never been arrested. He has had no dealings with them and it was just a moment of sheer madness.’
The hospitality worker was at a pub in Surrey on April 10 and drank three pints of alcohol before getting behind the wheel to drive along the A3
Ms Oldrey said stopped drinking before driving and felt he would be under the limit ‘but he clearly wasn’t okay at all’.
‘He is from a supportive family and his step-father confirmed it is absolutely out of character and he is very upset about it and worried about the impact it will have on his life,’ she said.
‘His insurance to drive was already an astonishing £1,300 and when he regains his licence it will be considerably more than that, possibly £4,000 to £5,000 and he has really shot himself in the foot.
‘He is worried about what the future impact of this will have on his life and hopefully he can put it behind him as matter of sheer lunacy and is able to continue with his life.’
Williams was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £150 and ordered to pay £85 in costs.
The ban will be reduced by 18 weeks if he completes a drink awareness course by October 23.