Advice for upcoming conviction

Convicted Driver Insurance

Bubbles91

New Member
Hi
I'm in need of some advice and have a few questions, so I'm sorry to bombard in advance.
Made my first mistake by getting in the bloody car and then shortly after was stopped on Saturday night, (bumped into a cone & had no lights on - which I'm confused about as my lights are automatic!) I fully cooperated with the police, blew 95 originally and then finally 92 at police station where i spent the night. (first driving offence apart from 3 points for speeding nearly 2 ago)
Unfortunately was supposed to be at work sunday morning, was released just before hand and made my next mistake of phoning in and lieing to manager in a panic as I at this point hadn't quite digested everything, however as i have a good work relationship with my assistant manager I told her the truth, but now I'm in a state worrying about that also.
Third mistake - since I can't sleep, reading forums & online advice that solicitors have posted, dvla, citizens advice etc I'm now very confused.
Would people recommend a solicitor? My intention is to plead guilty, but I'm frightened to death of going into court alone, I'm not very good at talking and I know I'll just end up a bambling mess/awkwardly laugh/do something stupid and make things worse for myself. I was told by a police officer that I'm entitled to a duty solicitor, but it's also the prep that I'm unsure about, and then if the ds is busy then I'll be screwed! I've had a quote from a solicitor for £1100, is this reasonable/necessary?
I know to expect a ban between 23-28months and to ask for the course to shorten and of course a fine (solicitor said if i go with him he will help make sure it's a fine and not a community order)
After this, (prep for future now) as I will be classed as a HRO, i understand that i will have to undergo a medical before receiving my license back - I have never been deemed as dependant on alcohol with my GP, however there may be evidence of binging on the file around 10 years ago (early twenties) when asked by a nurse how many units etc.. Obviously not thinking that that could affect my future in any way! If i ask the Dr, will they be able to provide me with a history of what i have told them previously? And then after seeing that they are issuing people with proof of 12m absistence, would it be worth making a start on that a year before my license is due back just incase?
I think that's all... For now
 
Hi
I'm in need of some advice and have a few questions, so I'm sorry to bombard in advance.
Made my first mistake by getting in the bloody car and then shortly after was stopped on Saturday night, (bumped into a cone & had no lights on - which I'm confused about as my lights are automatic!) I fully cooperated with the police, blew 95 originally and then finally 92 at police station where i spent the night. (first driving offence apart from 3 points for speeding nearly 2 ago)
Unfortunately was supposed to be at work sunday morning, was released just before hand and made my next mistake of phoning in and lieing to manager in a panic as I at this point hadn't quite digested everything, however as i have a good work relationship with my assistant manager I told her the truth, but now I'm in a state worrying about that also.
Third mistake - since I can't sleep, reading forums & online advice that solicitors have posted, dvla, citizens advice etc I'm now very confused.
Would people recommend a solicitor? My intention is to plead guilty, but I'm frightened to death of going into court alone, I'm not very good at talking and I know I'll just end up a bambling mess/awkwardly laugh/do something stupid and make things worse for myself. I was told by a police officer that I'm entitled to a duty solicitor, but it's also the prep that I'm unsure about, and then if the ds is busy then I'll be screwed! I've had a quote from a solicitor for £1100, is this reasonable/necessary?
I know to expect a ban between 23-28months and to ask for the course to shorten and of course a fine (solicitor said if i go with him he will help make sure it's a fine and not a community order)
After this, (prep for future now) as I will be classed as a HRO, i understand that i will have to undergo a medical before receiving my license back - I have never been deemed as dependant on alcohol with my GP, however there may be evidence of binging on the file around 10 years ago (early twenties) when asked by a nurse how many units etc.. Obviously not thinking that that could affect my future in any way! If i ask the Dr, will they be able to provide me with a history of what i have told them previously? And then after seeing that they are issuing people with proof of 12m absistence, would it be worth making a start on that a year before my license is due back just incase?
I think that's all... For now
Morning Bubbles, you've done well your research and seem to have your head screwed on except obviously for DD which we've all basically done! I must admit I think 1100 quid for a solicitor is very excessive, I think for that price I would be wanting Michael Mansfield QC or the Attorney General herself!!!!!

I reckon with sentencing you should be looking at lower end of 23 month if first offence and blowing in the low 90s. I blew 101 and got 24 month and did it all myself at court. I know court sounds worrying but it really isn't, saying that I had been in court or so over 10 years with work. At my Mags they simply gave me a form to fill in all about your earnings and outgoings and also gave me a DD course form, this was before even entering court, they then just asked for my name address and DOB did the Mags, prosecution solicitor read the charge, how who you plead, said quilty then the Mags said what do you wish to tell us, apologised Thanked the police for been kind, apologised for wasting Mags valuable time, said it wouldn't happen again, done!!!!! You may find with been in HRO that you do get a 12 month community order with probation I did and it was 80 hours. Now probation up here in Yorkshire or certainly my bit of Yorkshire didn't see DD badly, in fact all I did for probation was cook at the Salvation Army twice a week for the old dears and everyone there was DD and quite frankly I really enjoyed it. I didn't get fined you see as I was skint and living at home with my mum and I was actually happier doing the probation than fine, that and probation at Sally Army was only 5 mins walk from home. Hope that helps you a bit.
 
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Welcome Bubbles
For me personally I felt I needed to pay for a Solicitor for peace of mind (£500). £1100 seems very high to me. My offence was back in Feb and my original court date was scheduled for early April. Due to Covid it was delayed till the end of September. In all honesty I could have just gone with the Duty Solicitor and in actual fact the solicitor I paid for was the duty solicitor and he didnt look at my file till a couple of days before when I telephoned him. Also another thing to think about is whether the duty solicitor would be available to you (if there is a worse case they will go to that). When I met with my solicitor just before I went in the court room the district judge pulled him away from me to see a worse case. Not sure what would have happened if this was when I was in the actual court room as I'd paid for him!! I dont think I could have spoken in court (other than my name and dob). You will be absolutley fine in court so please do not worry about that. Take someone with you of you can. I took someone but I didnt want them to come in the court room with me so they waited in the corridor outside.
The issue I'm having now is there is absolutley no community payback placements. Not sure what's going to happen with it but I'm still waiting. I keep emailing interserve but they never get back to me.
Also not wanting to make you more anxious but I think you should come clean to your boss. She will appreciate your honesty. Having been a manager my self in various different settings I wouldn't want to find out from anyone else.
All the best
 
Hi Bubbles

When I went to court for my DD it was the first time I had been there, as I had never been in trouble or broken the law before. It is not a very nice experience and not one I wish to repeat. Do take someone with you; I took my wife and it made the world of difference to not feel on my own. Dress smartly (I was the only one there who had), prepare your statement etc as the other people who responded have suggested.

It does get better after court, as it feels like a weight has been lifted. I took advice from the duty solicitor, I was pleading guilty and wanted them to be lenient as they could be. I got a 17 month ban, reduced by 17 weeks if I completed a drink drive awareness course, which I have done. I am back on the road by the middle of February next year and cannot wait to be mobile again.

You will get through this, you will adapt to the lack of access to a car and I learned quite a bit on the drink drive course.

Keep your chin up, it gets better as time goes on, you've done your research and have a good idea of the process and likely outcomes. Wishing you well and let us know how you get on.
 
Everyone else has explained well what's going to happen next so I'll just address the solicitor side of things. I paid less than £200 for a local solicitor to represent me. They secured the lowest possible ban for me, the lowest fine possible and asked for the drink driving rehabilitation course which was granted.

Call around everyone and get prices. £1100 to plead guilty and present a bit of mitigation is daylight robbery.
 
Everyone else has explained well what's going to happen next so I'll just address the solicitor side of things. I paid less than £200 for a local solicitor to represent me. They secured the lowest possible ban for me, the lowest fine possible and asked for the drink driving rehabilitation course which was granted.

Call around everyone and get prices. £1100 to plead guilty and present a bit of mitigation is daylight robbery.

When you say local, do you mean high street solicitors? I'm sure I best start quick as they'll surely be off for xmas period!

Thank you all for the replies, I'm going to start getting myself as prepared as possible and pray England doesn't go into another lockdown like Wales next week! The sooner the court case is done the better!
 
When you say local, do you mean high street solicitors? I'm sure I best start quick as they'll surely be off for xmas period!

Thank you all for the replies, I'm going to start getting myself as prepared as possible and pray England doesn't go into another lockdown like Wales next week! The sooner the court case is done the better!
Hi Bubbles 91, my partner has been quoted the same amount £1100. Personally I felt that’s too high but we have already paid now. The lawyer said they will work on the mitigating factors, get the police report and prosecution notes to help prepare for the case and will provide my partner with a junior barrister to represent his case on the date of the hearing. But still feel it’s too high especially he is planning on pleading guilty anyways. Our main concern is that we have to get our court date moved by atleast a couple of weeks as we are going through fertility treatment and my scans is on the same date as my partners hearing. He needs to drive me, so we are hoping that our lawyer will be able to do something about the date, considering the amount of money they are charging.
Best of luck with your hearing.
 
Hi Bubbles 91, my partner has been quoted the same amount £1100. Personally I felt that’s too high but we have already paid now. The lawyer said they will work on the mitigating factors, get the police report and prosecution notes to help prepare for the case and will provide my partner with a junior barrister to represent his case on the date of the hearing. But still feel it’s too high especially he is planning on pleading guilty anyways. Our main concern is that we have to get our court date moved by atleast a couple of weeks as we are going through fertility treatment and my scans is on the same date as my partners hearing. He needs to drive me, so we are hoping that our lawyer will be able to do something about the date, considering the amount of money they are charging.
Best of luck with your hearing.


Yes, I went to a solicitor with an office in my town. Seen their name in the newspaper before in the courts section representing people and their reviews on Google were excellent. Just had a look there today at my online banking to see how much I paid when I was convicted, for a pre court phone appointment, preparing mitigation and the morning in court I paid £175.

You do not require a specialist solicitor, any high street solicitor will be capable of accompanying you to court and presenting mitigation. You definitely do not need a barrister to plead guilty, that's a cash grab.
 
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When you say local, do you mean high street solicitors? I'm sure I best start quick as they'll surely be off for xmas period!

Thank you all for the replies, I'm going to start getting myself as prepared as possible and pray England doesn't go into another lockdown like Wales next week! The sooner the court case is done the better!

Like Grice I went to a solicitor in my nearest small town. I actually had an appointment at their office a few days before court to discuss everything and the likely outcome. He spoke for me in court as I was too upset to speak
and I paid £240 in October 2019.
 
Dont know if I was just lucky......but after sitting outside Glasgow sheriff court for two hours....the duty solicitor approached ALL of us on entry.and asked all of us if we needed representation....and he was excellent...
 
Like Grice I went to a solicitor in my nearest small town. I actually had an appointment at their office a few days before court to discuss everything and the likely outcome. He spoke for me in court as I was too upset to speak
and I paid £240 in October 2019.

I asked a ex JP who said use local went to office & they represented me on day with character refs etc got me lower end of sentence I also wrote a letter of remorse to pass to court
Think it was about £300
There are posts on here re prep for court including how it runs, dummy visits, finance form, how to dress etc all of which are important & help you
Definitely speak to your manager & they may do a character reference
One day at a time
 
One thing I noticed from your thread - it is so easy to 'catastrophize' the whole experience - and worry yourself literally senseless.
I certainly did - but so many people on this forum were incredibly helpful.
I got my licence back in Dec btw and a lot of what I did - and which was successful - was gained through very kind people on this place.
My point is about the Doctor and what you may have revealed in the past re your drinking etc.
I have a very good relationship with my GP and I told her the full facts etc and my worries.
She told me - and admittedly it is just her view - that the DVLA only contact the GP if there is previous form, or if the readings after the medical just don't make any sense at all.
In her view - contact with the GP is very very rare.
Hope helps
 
One thing I noticed from your thread - it is so easy to 'catastrophize' the whole experience - and worry yourself literally senseless.
I certainly did - but so many people on this forum were incredibly helpful.
I got my licence back in Dec btw and a lot of what I did - and which was successful - was gained through very kind people on this place.
My point is about the Doctor and what you may have revealed in the past re your drinking etc.
I have a very good relationship with my GP and I told her the full facts etc and my worries.
She told me - and admittedly it is just her view - that the DVLA only contact the GP if there is previous form, or if the readings after the medical just don't make any sense at all.
In her view - contact with the GP is very very rare.
Hope helps
As you mention, it is just your GP's opinion.....

If you read through this forum you will find numerous instances where DVLA have contacted GP's, some have had previous issues, some have had strange results at the blood test, however quite a few people mention neither of these and yet the GP is contacted. DVLA do not have access to NHS notes, so the thought that you need to have 'previous form' is ludicrous, how would they know when to contact the GP and when not to???

Contact with the GP is not very rare, it is a lottery and actually happens quite often. I'm not trying to scaremonger or anything, but saying contact is rare is a dangerous misconception - proven by the numerous people on this forum who have had their GP contacted.
 
As you mention, it is just your GP's opinion.....

If you read through this forum you will find numerous instances where DVLA have contacted GP's, some have had previous issues, some have had strange results at the blood test, however quite a few people mention neither of these and yet the GP is contacted. DVLA do not have access to NHS notes, so the thought that you need to have 'previous form' is ludicrous, how would they know when to contact the GP and when not to???

Contact with the GP is not very rare, it is a lottery and actually happens quite often. I'm not trying to scaremonger or anything, but saying contact is rare is a dangerous misconception - proven by the numerous people on this forum who have had their GP contacted.

There's more active posters on this forum now who have had their doctors contacted than not. Definitely not scare mongering to tell users to be prepared for it.
 
I think CJ mentioned other week that I (recently) appear to be the only one or one of the extreme few on this forum that didn't have their GP contacted, still don't know why but my GP said definitely not contacted and he didn't know why DVLA didn't contact him even tho I didn't have anything on record
 
Hi all!
Thank you so much for the advice. A small update, I found a solicitor that is £240 - a huge contrast to the original quote! My court appearance is supposed to be on the 13th, but I have had correspondence from the solicitor today to say that I'm not on the court list 🤔 not sure what this means but if it means i get to drive for a little longer then I'm not complaining!
With regards to the dvla and drs situation, as soon as I've had my court appearance and know the final outcome, I'll be heading to the drs for a chat and some advice.
Genuinely think I'd still be a nervous wreck if it wasn't for the lovely people that have replied. I've got the solicitor, my poor mum is gutted that we'll be reverting 15 years back to taxi mum and my fat a*se is grateful for the extra movement that's coming its way!
Many happy and safe wishes for everyone for 2021.
 
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