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A drunk driver who crashed his car in Royal Oak Lane, Ash Green, Coventry at 1am on Sunday 7 April 2024 has been banned from driving for 12 months and fined £900 after appearing at Leamington Magistrates Court on Friday 18 October 2024 charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, drink driving, driving without due care and attention and no insurance. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £360 victim surcharge.
Eighteen year old Joshua BURNHAM SMITH from Deans Way in Coventry was the driver of a white Ford Fiesta containing two 19 year old passengers as he drove at speed along Wheelwright Lane before colliding with a telegraph pole and rolling the Fiesta on Royal Oak Lane, Ash Green, Coventry at 1am on Sunday 7 April 2024.
Officers arrived to find significant damage to street lighting, telegraph poles, nearby property walls and vehicles, debris across the road and the Fiesta on its side. Fire and ambulance services also attended the scene.
Joshua was quickly detained on suspicion of drink driving and for possession of an offensive weapon after an extendable baton was found in the wreckage.
Miraculously the car occupants suffered only minor injuries with the rear seat passenger needing treatment to a cut to his head and Joshua was also taken to hospital as a precaution for further medical checks.
On sentencing, the magistrate took the defendant's guilty plea into consideration and ordered that his driving licence be endorsed for no insurance and driving without due care and attention. His 12 month ban can be reduced by 25% if he satisfactorily completes a driver retraining course.
Speaking after the sentence PC James Heath said “There is no doubt that Joshua BURNHAM SMITH’s driving fell way below the standard of a competent driver. He drove carelessly showing no consideration for other people who may be using the road that night.
"He was also extremely irresponsible in choosing to drink drive. He had over twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood (81 milligrammes) and two passengers in the car. We hope his ban and the significant fine imposed for all his offending that night, gives him time to consider the consequences of his actions and to change his behaviour for the better.
"We are very grateful to the residents of Royal Oak Lane and others who provided CCTV evidence showing the events leading up to the crash. This collision had a huge effect on the local community and we thank them for their patience throughout the course of the investigation."
You can view CCTV footage of the collision on YouTube here