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Mother refused two breath tests


ASINGLEmother twice refused to give a breath samplewhen she was stopped by police after a night out clubbing, a court heard. YvonneGriffiths (30), ofMilton


Street, was suspected of drink driving after officers pulled her over in Holland Road at about 4amon aMonday. Prosecuting, JamesNichols told


the courtGriffithswas stopped as shewalked away fromthe vehicle. When challenged by police, she


refused to be breathalysed. Offi- cers recalled her appearing intox- icated, with glazed eyes and smelling strongly of alcohol. When she was taken to Maid-


stone police station, she again re- fused to provide officers with a breath sample. Defending, Peter Fernando


said: “MrsGriffiths’ record shows she is a woman of previous good character. She is a single parent to a nine- and an eight-year-old.” Mr Fernando said that Griffiths


had had other problems which had led to depression.


He told the court that Griffiths


was initially confused as to why police stopped her, but admitted to having two drinks at a club. Mr Fernando said: “She simply


just wanted some more informa- tion before agreeing to the test. But she fully accepts that shewas wrong in refusing to give the sample.” He said his client would take


the drink-driver rehabilitation course – which can reduce the length of ban by a quarter – so that she can better understand the dangers in future. Chairman of the bench, Jean


Sanderson said: “Whatmakes this matter more serious is that you twice refused to give a specimen - first at the roadside then again at the police station. This was a de- liberate refusal to co-operatewith police which puts this case in the higher (sentencing) category.” Griffiths pleaded guilty to fail-


ure to provide a specimen for analysis on December 10 and her case was adjourned to be sen- tenced later.


Drunk dad’s fine for abusing shopworker


A DRUNKEN Maidstone man stumbled into a shop bawling abuse at a femalemember of staff as he tried to buy Lucozade, a court heard. Father-of-oneMatthew Charles


Jones (33), of London Road, bel- lowed “I’mgoing to **** you up” when she refused to serve him. JamesNichols,prosecuting, told


the court Jones tripped as he en- tered


Broadway Express


newsagentsinMaidstoneat9amon December 30. The court heard Jones had been


outdrinkingina clubthenightbe- fore, andwent intothenewsagents to buy a Lucozade. Defending, Victoria Hart told


the court: “He did not approach this lady, although admits his be- haviour was inappropriate. Alco- hol isnotaproblemforhim,andhis night outwas a one-off.” Joneshasapreviousconvictionin


June2013,whenhewasarrestedfor a common assault forwhich he re- ceivedatwo-year communityorder andalcohol treatment.


MissHart continued: “Since this


order, Jonesdoesnothavethesame tolerance for alcohol.” The courtheardJones lives alone


inacouncil flat,andisunemployed due to an inherited spinal condi- tion.MissHart said hismedication had caused liver damage and was hewasdiagnosedwithdepression. Chairman of the bench, Jean


Sanderson, said:“Walkingintothat shop undoubtedly caused a lot of harm. Staff are not in shops to be sworn at.” Joneswas given a fine of £235.


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