by Chris Hunter

chunter@thekmgroup.co.uk

The motto on Malcolm West's Facebook page seems an unlikely choice for a teacher in charge of shooting and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme at a posh boarding school.

"If, in life, you can't be a good example," it reads, "make sure you are a glaring warning."

Unlikely, perhaps, but after his appearance in Maidstone Magistrates' Court for drink driving this week the quotation has become a good deal more apt.

Not that any pupils from the £28,000-a-year Sevenoaks School had been bussed down to observe the warning.

If they had, they would have heard how the 32-year-old master's normally steady aim and navigation skills deserted him in the early hours of Sunday, July 10, when, while driving back home along Smiths Hill in West Farleigh, he accidentally drove off the road and into a wall.

That might be already be enough to worry parents all over west Kent, but it wasn't West's only error of judgement that night.

"if, in life, you can't be a good example make sure you are a glaring warning" – malcolm west's motto

Aside from his choice of drink – defence solicitor Fionagh Green said West hadn't known the champagne and elderflower cordial he'd quaffed at his friend's 31st birthday party had been alcoholic – he then decided to drive back to his quarters at Sevenoaks School rather than deal with the accident there and then.

"He panicked," explained Mrs Green, adding that her client's return trip to Smiths Hill the next day was not made simply to pick up his number plate, which had fallen off at the scene of the accident. "He hadn't thought there was any damage to his vehicle," she said.

His attempt to apologise later on that day came too late as the owner of the wall had already called police about the damage, then made another call reporting a man had returned "looking for his number plate," said prosecutor Jenny Yale.

On breathalysing West police found 70 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, and he spent a night in the cells. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes per 100ml of breath.

West pleaded guilty and magistrates banned him from driving for 17 months, also ordering he pay a fine, victim surcharge and costs totalling £400.

But in mitigation Fionagh Green said West was "devastated by his actions and is extremely remorseful."