Drink-driver crashed into canal bridge

A drink-driver who crashed his girlfriend's car has been banned from the road for 28 months.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Tuesday, July 12, how Tony Saunby, 30, of Cedar Close, Killamarsh, was spotted by a witness having crashed into a canal bridge wall before he drove off and was found by police.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “Saunby’s partner had been working at a pub when Saunby phoned and asked if he could borrow her car to pick up her birthday present.

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“A witness later heard a loud crack just after 6pm, on April 2, and saw the vehicle had crashed into a canal bridge. The witness and his father went outside and saw Saunby reversing from a wall with extensive damage.

“They managed to get him to stop and get out of the car but shortly afterwards he got back in and drove off towards Renishaw and the same car returned and narrowly missed them as they were clearing debris and it sped out of view.”

Police found Saunby and the Vauxhall Corsa on Nether Avenue parked up.

Saunby told police he had had several pints and had come round the corner and the car slid and he crashed into the wall and thought he was going to be sent down.

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He registered 332milligrammes of alcohol in 100millilitres of urine exceeding the legal limit of 107milligrammes after a test.

Miner Saunby, who has a previous conviction for drink-driving, pleaded guilty to exceeding the alcohol drink-drive limit and to driving without insurance after the incident on Spinkhill Lane.

Magistrates sentenced Saunby to a 12 month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for 28 months.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.