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Larkfield drink-driver who crashed into another vehicle on way home causing other motorist spinal injury is banned from road

A drink-driver injured another motorist after ploughing his vehicle into theirs while nearly three times the legal limit.

Michael Perrill had been driving to his home in Larkfield after downing drinks at a friend's house.

When given a breath test, Perrill gave a reading of 161 in breath. iStock image
When given a breath test, Perrill gave a reading of 161 in breath. iStock image

But when he turned right from Leybourne Way to get access the road he lives on he crashed his VW Caddy into the another vehicle.

The smash happened at about 10pm on August 7 last year and when officers arrived at the scene they found the 46-year-old sitting in the driver's seat of his vehicle.

Officers said Perrill, of Priestley Drive, Larkfield, Aylesford, kept repeating himself and smelt of alcohol so they carried out a roadside breath test on him.

He gave a reading of 161 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – which is more than four times the legal limit.

Perrill was himself taken to hospital to be treated and four hours after the smash gave a blood test reading of 236 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Police carry out three tests on suspected drink-drivers and charge people from their lowest reading.

Perrill appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court. Stock picture: John Nurden
Perrill appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court. Stock picture: John Nurden

Perrill, a self employed flat roofer, was later charged with drink-driving and admitted the offence when he appeared before Sevenoaks Magistrates Court last Thursday.

Emily Wiles prosecuting told the court Perrill had previously been convicted of drink-driving but the conviction was 20-years-old.

The court also heard Perrill was extremely remorseful and had not driven since the accident as he'd lost all confidence to get behind the wheel.

He'd been at a low point in his life at the time and had suffered with depression and anxiety since he was 15, magistrates heard.

His friends had questioned whether he should have driven home that night after the amount of alcohol he'd consumed.

Magistrates placed Perrill on a 12 month community order which will see him complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was also banned from the road for 28 months and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and £85 costs.

Chairman of the bench, Jackie Hamilton said: "This was serious, the other driver suffered a spinal injury and it could have been even worse.

"You could have easily killed someone, it's just fortunate it wasn't a lot worse. It was a high reading four hours later."

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