Man caught drink driving after almost colliding with a police car on his way to pick up a friend

Josh Morgan had been travelling along Scrooby Road, in Harworth at around 11.30pm on June 27 when the incident occurred, Nottingham Magistrates’ Court was told on Friday, October 16.

Prosecuting, Ann Barrett told the court that Morgan and the police vehicle were involved in the near miss on a mini-roundabout as officers pulled out of the police station they were based at.

“They observed a vehicle driving erratically and they had to brake to avoid a collision,” she said. “The vehicle almost collided with the police car and they could smell alcohol on the driver’s breath.

“They carried out a roadside breath test and he told them, ‘There’s no reason to arrest me, I’m not a criminal and I’ve got a baby at home.”

When breathalysed, Morgan blew 71mg of alcohol to 100ml of breath when the legal limit is 35mg, meaning he was twice over the legal limit when he was arrested.

The 30-year-old, of Scrooby Road, Harworth, admitted drink driving when he appeared before the court.

Mitigating, Andrew Bevan said: “He had been drinking at home, probably about three pints, but then plans were made to collect his friend. He stopped drinking for about an hour before he got into his car and misjudged the amount of alcohol he had consumed.

“It took place on the mini-roundabout where the police station is situated. The police vehicle had the right of way, but he says they flashed him to go and at that point they pulled him over. He doesn’t accept that they were almost in collision.

“He is a self-employed electrician and he’s fully aware that he’s going to lose his licence. His vehicle is his toolbox, it is his briefcase. He has a young son who is one year old, and there’s going to be a dramatic on his salary.”

Morgan was banned from driving for 18 months, but was offered the drink driver awareness course, which would reduce the disqualification by 19 weeks if completed by September 30, 2021.

He was also fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

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