Drink driver banned for a second time following crash

Powys County Times

23-06-2025

A POWYS man knocked out and trapped in his vehicle after he crashed it after drinking with friends has been banned from the roads for a second time.
Kelly Tompkins, 51, crashed his Vauxhall Combo van in Llanwnog, near Caersws, on the night of February 22 this year.
He admitted drink driving when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, June 17.
Prosecutor Helen Tench said the single vehicle road traffic collision occurred on the B4568 at The Vicarage, Llanwnog, at around 10pm.
'Police had a call about a collision involving a white Vauxhall van, in which the driver was still trapped,' said Mrs Tench.
'The fire service were on the scene and the driver was trapped, but he managed to get himself out.
'Alcohol was smelt by officers and he was slurring his words and unsteady on his feet. The vehicle had rolled. He was taken to hospital.
'The defendant said he did not have much recollection of the crash and thought it was in a different place.
'He admitted driving and couldn't remember what he'd been drinking that evening.'
Mrs Tench said Tompkins had a previous drink driving conviction from 2016.
A reading showed Tompkins had 172 milligrams of alcohol in his blood – the legal limit is 80 micrograms.
Acting for the defendant, of Llanwnog, Gurleen Kaur said: 'He was compliant with officers, he even thanked them during police interview, in which he was honest and held his hands up.
'He had been in with friends drinking. He said he wanted to get away and ended up driving, which was a big mistake. He is remorseful.
'He is in employment as a farm engineer, he manages hen sheds. This is secure, despite the loss of his licence, although it will limit his employment. It would impact out of hours issues.'
Ms Kaur said Tompkins' niece was reliant on him financially and she said it would be 'incredibly difficult' for him to do any unpaid work due to being in full time employment, with the job being a very demanding one.
She said he had no convictions since his 2016 drink driving offence and he would welcome a chance to complete a drink driving awareness course.
Magistrates ordered a report and probation officer Carl Atkinson said: 'He says he has no memory of the event as he was knocked out.
'He takes full responsibility for his actions. This is his third offence, which are all related to alcohol, which poses concern."
Magistrates disqualified Tompkins for three years but offered him the chance to reduce this by allowing him to undertake a drink driving rehabilitation course.
He will be made the subject of a 12-month community order, which will include 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was also fined £362 and must pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.