Crewkerne man banned from driving for four years after drink-driving offences and assault
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman’s Weekly News
A Crewkerne man has received a four-year driving ban after being convicted of two separate drink-driving offences within a month, one of which involved a crash, the other a violent altercation with police.
Kurt Unsworth, 33, of Langmead Square, appeared at Yeovil Magistrates’ Court where he admitted to drink-driving, being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal alcohol limit, and assaulting a police officer.
The first incident occurred in the early hours of 30th December 2023. Police were alerted at around 3.15am that Unsworth had been drinking and had left a property in Chard in a vehicle. Officers located his Peugeot 207 on Clayhangar Lane. When they approached the car, Unsworth tried to drive away but was brought to a halt by a gate at the end of the track.
Prosecutor Genna Morgan told the court: “The officers ran after it on foot and then smashed the driver’s window and when Unsworth was taken out he became verbally abusive. He then thrust his hands towards the officer’s face, connecting with his chin, causing reddening and discomfort.”
Unsworth was arrested and taken to Bridgwater police station, where he gave a breathalyser reading of 109 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - more than three times the legal limit of 35.
Less than a month later, on 25th January, Unsworth was involved in a second incident when police were called to the High Street in Chard following a collision. His vehicle had struck a telegraph pole, bending it on impact. Officers found Unsworth still seated in the car with the airbags deployed. He initially refused to take a breath test at the roadside, but following his arrest a further test at the station showed 95 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
Representing himself in court, Unsworth said he had been struggling at the time. “On the first occasion I was living out of my car at the time, and the lane was a dirt track which was owned by myself as I have maintained it for 10 years,” he explained. He also told magistrates that he had recently been forced to close his self-employed mechanic business.
In sentencing, magistrates disqualified Unsworth from driving for 48 months. He was also given an 18-month community order, requiring him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, attend 25 Rehabilitation Activity Days, and take part in a six-month alcohol treatment programme.
Unsworth was additionally fined £480 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the assaulted officer, along with a £306 victim surcharge and £170 in court costs.