Posts Tagged ‘drink driving solicitors’

Drink Driving Solicitors at Nottingham Magistrates Court

Posted on: September 16th, 2014 by steve

Forrest Williams are specialist drink driving solicitors. We share our clients’ cases while protecting their identity.

When Raymond Digby* first contacted us for help, he was mortified about the fact that he was facing a drink driving conviction. Raymond explained to us that he held a position of some seniority within a university and that he had told only a couple of people about his forthcoming court hearing. With no previous drink driving convictions in his 30 years of motoring, Raymond could not believe that he now faced a certain disqualification based on his blood alcohol reading of 134ml.

Raymond was reassured from our first telephone conversation that he would be allocated a case worker, who would be his first point of contact regarding his case. This is a service offered to all clients of Forrest Williams, at the point of instruction.

Raymond was also assured of our discretion: ie that the information he shared with us would be handled with sensitivity and not shared with anyone other than his barrister. This was very important to Raymond, as he did not want his employer to find out about the drink driving charge until absolutely necessary.

At the Nottingham Magistrates’ Court hearing, Raymond was disqualified for a period of 14 months, to be reduced by 25% on completion of the drink drive rehabilitation course. He told us he was very pleased with the professional services of both Forrest Williams and his barrister, who had supported him from first telephone call through to the court hearing.

Raymond thanked everyone at Forrest Williams for their support at a very difficult time and also for their discretion in ensuring that all telephone and email contacts were made with due regard for his concern that the motoring matter remain confidential. We assured Raymond that, once he had instructed us, his concerns became our concerns.

As Forrest Williams are well aware, it is not only outcomes that our clients are focused on. Equally important for many of the people who approach us are the way in which they will be treated as they encounter the court system and how well they will be supported as the hearing date approaches.

*Name changed to protect client’s identity.

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Drink Driving Solicitors Help Clients With English As Second Language

Posted on: September 16th, 2014 by steve

Gilda Birkin* thought that she would be under the legal limit (35mg – breath) after a night out with work colleagues, during which she consumed two large glasses of wine. She believed that the time which had elapsed since her drinking alcohol, and the fact that she had consumed several soft drinks, would mean she was safe to drive herself home.

However, Gilda was pulled over by the police and given a roadside breath test, which she failed. She was then taken back the police station and breathalysed again, following which she was charged on a breath reading of 62mg. Gilda was devastated.

She explained to us that such a night out is rare, as she has young children, and that a disqualification of any length would make life difficult for her as she works shifts as a nurse.

We at Forrest Williams took a full statement from Gilda and appointed a specialist motoring law barrister to represent her at the hearing at Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court.

Gilda was pleased by the outcome – a disqualification of 17 months, which will be reduced by 25% on completion of the drink drive rehabilitation course. When sentencing, the magistrates took account of Gilda’s extreme remorse, her good character and professional achievements, and also the impact of the conviction on her care arrangements for her children and others.

Gilda gave thanks to Forrest Williams for the proof reading service offered as part of the fixed fee agreed at the start of her case. As English is not her first language, Gilda was concerned that any documents handed in to court be of a high standard. She told us she was reassured to know that all her documents had been critically proof read, and revisions suggested prior to the hearing date, so that amendments could be made where necessary.

Forrest Williams are drink driving solicitors who are proud to offer a bespoke service and understand that different clients have very different concerns about the legal proceedings they face.

We are big enough to fight for you, but small enough to tailor our services to your specific needs.

*Name changed to protect client’s identity.

Drink Driving: Police Charge Woman With Blood Alcohol Reading of 999,999

Posted on: May 23rd, 2014 by steve

blood

We are often asked whether the police really do ever make mistakes in procedures that they carry out often.

We have had an interesting case recently which proves that mistakes can happen, and shows that not everyone charged with drink driving is guilty of the offence.

Julie contacted our offices recently in a state of distress. She had been charged with drink driving and given a Court date. She was adamant that she should’t have been over the limit – she’d had just a single drink and had waited an hour after drinking it before she drove.

She felt fine and there had been no concerns over her driving. She was stopped because she was driving slowly, late at night; something that Julie said was actually due to her being in an unfamiliar area and trying to work out the correct road to turn onto.

At the police station, a blood sample was taken from her.

The legal blood alcohol limit is 80. Anything over that will result in you being over the limit, and charged with drink driving.

The magistrates’ guidelines go as far as 345, meaning that most people are expected to have readings of 345 or under. Indeed, for someone to have a reading anywhere near this high, the Court will be concerned that serious alcohol abuse issues are present. Most people could not reach an alcohol reading this high and be alive, never mind driving.

Imagine our surprise, then, when Julie informed us that her reading was 999,999.

A blood reading of nearly 1 million!

Clearly, something had gone wrong.

Fortunately, with our experience as drink drive solicitors, we were able to liaise with the prosecution and stop this absurd case ever reaching the Court, something that Julie was very grateful for.

Perhaps this story should be told to anyone who believes ‘there’s no smoke without fire’!

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Posts Tagged ‘drink driving solicitors’

Drink Driving Solicitors at Nottingham Magistrates Court

Drink Driving Solicitors Help Clients With English As Second Language

Drink Driving: Police Charge Woman With Blood Alcohol Reading of 999,999

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