Man in Powys van crash drank 'copious amounts' of alcohol

Joshua Dalva, 22, was found to be still over the drink drive limit when police breathalysed him following a road traffic collision near Newtown on the evening of July 16.

At Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 6, Dalva entered a guilty plea to drink driving.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said police were called to the scene of the crash, in Dolfor, at 8.30pm on Tuesday, July 16.

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“Police were called after a van had driven into a property; the front wing had come off,” said Mrs Tench.

“There was significant damage to the front side, the wheel had gone and there was a scrape after it collided with a rock.

“The defendant was present, breathalysed and arrested. He said he had drunk copious amounts of alcohol the previous evening and then into the morning too.

“He said he had permission to drive, but he is only a provisional licence holder and had no ‘L’ plates displayed on the van.

“There was a passenger who was qualified and supervising him, but he wouldn’t give their name.”

Mrs Tench said the reading provided by Dalva, who has no previous convictions, was 51 micrograms of alcohol in breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Paul Inns, representing Dalva, of Golden Drive, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, said his client had been fully cooperative with police at the roadside.

“The previous night he had been drinking and this continued into early hours, until 3 or 4am,” said Mr Inns.

“He had a few hours sleep and felt fine, in fact he worked that day. He didn’t drink that day and was driving the works van and he was supervised, but he didn’t have ‘L’ plates.

“There was a big branch in the middle of the road which he hit; it caused him to lose control and caused the wheel to fall off.

“There was no damage to the property or any other vehicle, the only damage was to the works van.”

Mr Inns said Dalva, a kitchen fitter, will be able to keep his job despite the inevitable driving ban.

He was banned from driving for 14 months – this can be reduced by completing a drink drive awareness course, but Dalva declined to accept this option.

Magistrates also fined him £276 and told him to pay a £110 surcharge and £85 costs.