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Businessman drank then drove from bar to caravan at holiday camp

A London businessman who drove a few short metres from the bar he had just been ejected from at a St Helens holiday camp he was staying at, was more than twice the drink-drive limit.
A London businessman who drove a few short metres from the bar he had just been ejected from at a St Helens holiday camp he was staying at, was more than twice the drink-drive limit.

WITHIN hours of arriving at an Isle of Wight holiday camp from London, a businessman drank, was removed from the bar by staff then he drove his car into a neraby parking space — while twice the drink-drive limit.

Gareth Cloete, of Whatley Avenue, Merton, admitted drink-driving at Nodes Point Holiday Park, St Helens, on June 25.

Daniel Rigby, a security guard at the park, was working that evening and saw Cloete drinking in the bar.

When he got too drunk, he was ejected by security, at around 10.30pm.

About 20 minutes later, Mr Rigby saw Cloete drive his Audi car — which he filmed on his phone — then stop in a parking space a short distance away, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, Newport, on Tuesday.

Police arrived at 11.30pm, saw the video footage, and Cloete was asked to provide a roadside breath test, which he failed.

Following his arrest, Cloete was breathalysed at Newport Police Station, blowing a reading of 73 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35.

The 38-year-old told police he recalled being ejected from the bar, that he got in his car and had turned the ignition on — but not driving his car, said Mrs Smout.

Cloete, with no previous convictions, conceded he must have driven as well.

For Cloete, Henry Farley said his client was "very sheepish and ashamed" when he provided his guilty plea.

"He held a full, clean driving licence for 20 years and had driven thousands of miles without ever coming to the attention of the police before," said Mr Farley.

"He has made a catastrophic error of judgement, which will have a knock-on effect on his life for the foreseable future.

"He drove to the Isle of Wight — perfectly sober. Hurrah! My holiday has started, he thought, and had a couple of drinks.

"His caravan was 30m away from the bar, but he drove into a parking space."

Magistrates disqualified Cloete from driving for 20 months and fined him £400, with an order to pay £85 costs and a £160 surcharge.