Welshpool drink driver caught with partner in BMW car
A driver who was found to be twice over the drink-drive limit with his partner in the car has been banned from driving.
Police were called at 11.20pm on May 16 after receiving a report from a member of the public in Welshpool who believed that the driver of a BMW X1 was under the influence of alcohol.
Officers stopped the vehicle driven by Sukhminder Singh in Church Street and he failed a roadside breathalyser test.
The 31-year-old was arrested and found to be twice over the drink-drive limit almost two hours later following a further breathalyser test at the police station.
Defence solicitor Owain Jones told Welshpool Magistrates' Court that Singh couldn't recall how much he had drunk that evening, but it was "clearly more" than the two beers he had told police.
Mr Jones said: "I explained the risk to himself, other road users and his family. His response was of guilt, and he feels ashamed and deeply regrets his actions.
"He has no previous convictions and has never been in trouble before. This has been a lesson to him."
Welshpool Magistrates' Court was told that Singh and his partner sought asylum in the UK due to religious persecution in India.
"He has no benefits, but he lives off the generosity of friends, family and Sikh community," Mr Jones explained.
Singh, of Mason Street, West Bromwich, was given a 20-month driving disqualification and ordered to pay the court £253 within three months after pleading guilty to drink driving.
Nicholas Powell, chair of the magistrates' bench, said: "We are very disappointed seeing you here under these circumstances.
"Drink driving is very foolish which could have resulted in injuries to people, yourself and your family. It seems that you gave no great thought about them."
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Powys County Times
19 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Welshpool drink driver caught with partner in BMW car
A driver who was found to be twice over the drink-drive limit with his partner in the car has been banned from driving. Police were called at 11.20pm on May 16 after receiving a report from a member of the public in Welshpool who believed that the driver of a BMW X1 was under the influence of alcohol. Officers stopped the vehicle driven by Sukhminder Singh in Church Street and he failed a roadside breathalyser test. The 31-year-old was arrested and found to be twice over the drink-drive limit almost two hours later following a further breathalyser test at the police station. Defence solicitor Owain Jones told Welshpool Magistrates' Court that Singh couldn't recall how much he had drunk that evening, but it was "clearly more" than the two beers he had told police. Mr Jones said: "I explained the risk to himself, other road users and his family. His response was of guilt, and he feels ashamed and deeply regrets his actions. "He has no previous convictions and has never been in trouble before. This has been a lesson to him." Welshpool Magistrates' Court was told that Singh and his partner sought asylum in the UK due to religious persecution in India. "He has no benefits, but he lives off the generosity of friends, family and Sikh community," Mr Jones explained. Singh, of Mason Street, West Bromwich, was given a 20-month driving disqualification and ordered to pay the court £253 within three months after pleading guilty to drink driving. Nicholas Powell, chair of the magistrates' bench, said: "We are very disappointed seeing you here under these circumstances. "Drink driving is very foolish which could have resulted in injuries to people, yourself and your family. It seems that you gave no great thought about them."
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Armed officer sues Police Scotland over suspension after TikTok Tallia Storm incident
Steven Jones is taking Police Scotland to court after being suspended over an incident involving singer Tallia Storm. A firearms officer is taking legal action against Police Scotland alleging he was unfairly suspended after footage of an "incident" was shared on TikTok. Steven Jones, 35, appeared before an employment tribunal in Edinburgh on Monday, June 9, where he is suing the force for sex discrimination. Mr Jones claims his actions were unfairly labelled 'misogynistic' and that he was penalised due to Police Scotland management's concerns about the armed response unit being seen as having a 'boys' club mentality'. The tribunal heard that the incident occurred on March 1, 2024, when a video posted by Scottish singer Tallia Storm showed Mr Jones and his colleague stepping out of their marked police vehicle on Edinburgh's Cowgate to take a photo with her. In the footage, Mr Jones can be seen taking the picture while his partner poses with Storm, reports EdinburghLive. Mr Jones told the tribunal he was later 'chastised' by senior officers who described his conduct as 'misogynistic' and criticised him for stopping in a busy pedestrian and traffic area. He said the force reacted negatively due to public backlash over the video. He believes he was treated unfairly because of 'past instances of misogyny' involving other officers in the firearms unit, and that his own actions were wrongly framed in that context. He told the tribunal: "Because of the word 'misogyny,' it made me feel it was because I as a male interacting with a female that it was viewed through that lens. If a member of the other sex had that interaction, it wouldn't have happened." His solicitor, Mr Merck, referenced a previous high-profile case involving female firearms officer Rhona Malone, who received nearly £1 million in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled she had been victimised by the force on the basis of her sex. Mr Jones believes that case influenced how his own behaviour was judged. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He said: "It really surprised me. I was extremely upset and shocked because I knew I had to disclose to my partner what I had been accused of and explain to my family." At the time of the incident, Mr Jones and his colleague were on "parliament duty," patrolling areas around the Scottish Parliament including the Cowgate and Grassmarket. While driving through Cowgate, they encountered a large crowd and slowed the vehicle. Mr Jones said he then recognised Tallia Storm in the crowd. "I knew who she was due to the publicity and her being the Capital DJ host at the time. She was on the side of trams and buses," he said. He and his partner left the vehicle — which held secured firearms — for what he estimated to be about a minute, possibly less. Mr Jones claimed the singer was "ecstatic" about the photo opportunity and added: "There was no rude behaviour or catcalling. I present myself courteously and was calm in the situation. We engaged in conversation to ascertain that a Q&A was being held. It looked like she was making her way over. We very quickly introduced ourselves, it was a polite interaction." He said that throughout the encounter, they ensured their police vehicle remained secure. Despite this, Mr Jones was later suspended — a sanction he believes was disproportionate. He told the tribunal: "It is our job to engage with people. We don't police with fear, we police by good interactions with the public. The last thing I'd ever want is the public to fear the police and to fear me. I always speak to people as a human being. I meet them where they are." Mr Jones joined Police Scotland in March 2017 and completed his authorised firearms officer training in June 2023. He told the tribunal he had ambitions of becoming a national firearms instructor and had been encouraged to apply for a role in counterterrorism. But since the incident, he says he has been demoted to a desk-based role, handling "low-level daily calls" — a stark contrast to his previous work dealing with "very high risk incidents" and high-stakes decision making within the firearms unit. The five-day tribunal, overseen by Employment Judge Amanda Jones, continues.
Edinburgh Live
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- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh police officer sues force after 'suspension for photo with influencer'
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