downsmail.co.uk


Driver refused breathalysers


A SINGLE mother twice refused to give a breath samplewhen she was stopped by police after a night out clubbing, a court heard. Yvonne Griffiths (30), of Milton


Street, Maidstone, was suspected of drink driving after officers pulledher over inHollandRoadat about 4amon aMonday. Prosecuting, James Nichols told


the court Griffiths was stopped as shewalked away fromthe vehicle. When challengedby police, she re- fused to be breathalysed. Officers recalled her appearing


intoxicated, with glazed eyes and smelling strongly of alcohol. When she was taken toMaidstone police station, she again refused to pro- vide officerswith a breath sample. Defending, Peter Fernando said:


“MrsGriffiths’ recordshows she is awoman of previous good charac- ter. She is a single parent to a nine- and an eight-year-old.” Mr Fernando said that Griffiths hadhadotherproblemswhichhad


ledtodepression.He toldthe court thatGriffithswas initially confused as to why police stopped her, but admitted to having two drinks. Mr Fernando said: “She just


wantedsomemore informationbe- fore agreeing to the test. But she fully accepts that shewaswrong in refusing to give the sample.” He said his clientwould take the


drink-driver rehabilitationcourse – 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.Thiswas adelib- erate refusal to co-operatewithpo- lice which puts this case in the higher (sentencing) category.” Griffiths admitted to failure to


provide a specimen for analysis onDecember 10 and her casewas adjourned to be sentenced later.


News Drunk fined for abuse


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


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


the court Jones tripped as he en- tered


Broadway Express


newsagents in Maidstone at 9am on December 30. The court heard Jones had been


out drinking in a club the night be- fore, andwent into the newsagents to buy a Lucozade. Defending, VictoriaHart told the


court: “He did not approach this lady, although admits his behav- iour was inappropriate. Alcohol is not a problem for him, and his night out was a one-off.” Jones has a previous conviction


in June 2013, when he was ar- rested for a common assault for which he received a two-year com- munity order and alcohol treat- ment. Miss Hart continued: “Since this


order, Jones does not have the same tolerance for alcohol.” The court heard Jones lives


alone in a council flat, and is un- employed due to an inherited spinal condition. Miss Hart said his medication


had caused liver damage and he was diagnosed with depression. Chairman of the bench, Jean


Sanderson, said: “Walking into that shop undoubtedly caused a lot of harm. Staff are not in shops to be sworn at.” Jones was given a fine of £235.


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