Drink-Driver Caught for Third Time in Nine Years Receives Maximum Driving Ban

Ritesh Ira, a 40-year-old shopkeeper, was caught driving without insurance and with a blood-alcohol level nearly double the legal limit after a police patrol spotted his VW Golf with no rear lights visible in Leicester, England. Ira, who had previously been caught drink-driving twice in the past nine years, claimed he thought he was insured and had only consumed two drinks before driving.

Key Takeaways:

• Ira's vehicle was stopped by Leicestershire Police on June 16, 2019, at approximately 2:30 am, after officers noticed it was driving with no rear lights visible.
• Ira failed a roadside breath test with a reading of 59 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.
• Ira pleaded guilty to having no insurance and failing to provide a specimen, despite providing a roadside sample and the first sample at the police station.
• Ira's lawyer, Shabir Mirza, claimed that Ira had only consumed two drinks and thought he was insured, with his niece failing to sort out the insurance application.
• Ira has been in the UK for 19 years and owns a fruit and vegetable shop, but has been struggling due to recent competition from similar shops in the area.
• The magistrates took into account Ira's previous convictions and lack of insurance, resulting in a community order, unpaid work, and the maximum driving ban of three years and four months.

Statistics:

• Ira's blood-alcohol level was 59 microgrammes per 100ml of breath, exceeding the legal limit by 24 microgrammes.
• Ira has been caught drink-driving three times in the past nine years.
• Ira's shop has been struggling due to recent competition, with multiple similar shops opening in the same area.
• The maximum driving ban is three years and four months.

Sources:

• "Drink-driver banned from roads for three years and four months" by Leicestershire Police (no date)
• "Court Report" by Leicester Magistrates' Court (no date)
• "Drink-driver banned after being caught behind wheel of uninsured car" by The Leicester Mercury (no date)