Ashamed. Advice needed please

Convicted Driver Insurance

Helpmeplease12

New Member
Hi all

i feel utterly ashamed and have been so stupid. Bang to rights DD, blew 99 at station.

i have read sentencing guidelines

I was convicted of drink driving in Oct 2010.

obviously this is 9 years ago and a bit, I know a second sentence has be minimum 36 month and can be more with my repeat.

since that I have built myself a great career which depends on a car, I have completed higher education degree and been in employment for 10 years where my career has really gone well. And one night of pure stupidity that I can’t even comprehend why and Im in this situation.

is there ever a time that the sentencing is relaxed in this case, or even if you are 9 years 11 months it is hard and fast?

i want to present the situation and how out of character this was and a huge mistake against 9 years of hard work and building my life.

is this best done by a letter from myself to the magistrates? Or should I be looking for a solicitor?

thanks in advance, totally gutted and still in shock and depressed at myself for being a complete idiot
 
Hi all

i feel utterly ashamed and have been so stupid. Bang to rights DD, blew 99 at station.

i have read sentencing guidelines

I was convicted of drink driving in Oct 2010.

obviously this is 9 years ago and a bit, I know a second sentence has be minimum 36 month and can be more with my repeat.

since that I have built myself a great career which depends on a car, I have completed higher education degree and been in employment for 10 years where my career has really gone well. And one night of pure stupidity that I can’t even comprehend why and Im in this situation.

is there ever a time that the sentencing is relaxed in this case, or even if you are 9 years 11 months it is hard and fast?

i want to present the situation and how out of character this was and a huge mistake against 9 years of hard work and building my life.

is this best done by a letter from myself to the magistrates? Or should I be looking for a solicitor?

thanks in advance, totally gutted and still in shock and depressed at myself for being a complete idiot
Be looking at some legal advise here,A specialist in drink driving cases
 
In terms of the length since last ban?
I spoke to the dvla today as got banned 7 years ago,Never applied for my licence as was afraid of doing the same again ,They contacted my doctor so waiting on the letter to arrive.Your situation is a second offence in 10 years so a free phone call to a specialist solicitor costs what ???
 
Sorry but there is no flexibility on the 2 offences in 10 years meaning a 3 year minimum ban.
the 10 years run from the date of firs5 conviction to the date you are caught the second time. The magistrates have no discretion at all.
you are right to say that with a reading of 99 this time you may well get 3 1/2 years.
The only way to reduce the ban is to be offered, and accept, a Drink Drive Rehabilitation course which would take up to 25% off. This has to be done during your hearing because it cannot be offered afterwards, so make a note to ask for a course if the magistrates do not mention it.
You can submit a letter to the magistrates on the day, but it is nicer if you just talk to them (from notes if you want) in person for them to gauge your sincerity. You could submit a couple of written character references.
If you really Feel you cannot speak for yourself then you can pay for a solicitor, going rate for simple mitigation would be about £3-400.
You may well also face a community penalty involving unpaid work, but you would be interviewed by a probation officer about your suitability and availability to do this.
 
Sorry but there is no flexibility on the 2 offences in 10 years meaning a 3 year minimum ban.
the 10 years run from the date of firs5 conviction to the date you are caught the second time. The magistrates have no discretion at all.
you are right to say that with a reading of 99 this time you may well get 3 1/2 years.
The only way to reduce the ban is to be offered, and accept, a Drink Drive Rehabilitation course which would take up to 25% off. This has to be done during your hearing because it cannot be offered afterwards, so make a note to ask for a course if the magistrates do not mention it.
You can submit a letter to the magistrates on the day, but it is nicer if you just talk to them (from notes if you want) in person for them to gauge your sincerity. You could submit a couple of written character references.
If you really Feel you cannot speak for yourself then you can pay for a solicitor, going rate for simple mitigation would be about £3-400.
You may well also face a community penalty involving unpaid work, but you would be interviewed by a probation officer about your suitability and availability to do this.
Yup been reading up on this stuff and a very good reply mr price (y)
 
Sorry to hear about the situation you're in man. It's a learning lesson that we are all still human and one slip up can put us back. Unfortunately as stated there's not much you can do, 3 years is looking the likely outcome.

It's a scary thought, but really precautions should have been/should be put in place to ensure this never happens again. But I honestly don't know what those are; I'm going to consider purchasing an in-car breathalyser which would give me an indication.

I think about this DD thing every single day. Albeit it's only been 2 months since conviction (4 months since incident); still can't believe I've found myself in such a situation. But as they say, we move - keep your head up and keep plowing on mate.
 
Thank you for replies.
I was pretty sure there was no movement and I had sort of hoped best case would be 36 months with the course if I can achieve that, I just wanted to get my case across that it was so out of character and would be so damaging.
Will I get the chance to speak to the magistrates?
Also, I think out of pain more then anything I have blanked out a lot of the memories of the night. As far as I’m sure I had pulled over into a gas station to stop driving as the car had a tyre down then the police came in too. How much will the details of the incident come into play. No accidents, late at night and was pulled over.
is there a way I can see the case that is being presented about myself prior to court or is this something I would need a solicitor to do?
In terms of procedure I did not think I needed one as I would turn up, plead guilt , appeal
To the magistrates and show my remorse and guilt and take whatever sentence is imposed on me
 
Would appreciate any more comments on what more I can do to help my cause.
I’m really struggling to deal with the shame and how I’ve messed my life up so badly I can’t bare tears of this
 
Would appreciate any more comments on what more I can do to help my cause.
I’m really struggling to deal with the shame and how I’ve messed my life up so badly I can’t bare tears of this
Am going to jump in this thread because I rebuilt my life around my DUI, I don't want to publish the fact I was happier and a lot more fkn fitter due to cycling roughly 50 miles per day,
Since I regained my licence am almost 3 stone fatter and suffering bouts of depression and my sex drives bottomed out am fkn lazy,

Now please no idiot go do a DUI to get inspired however the 14 MTHS without licence were my best years just wish I could show you pictures before and after, maybe message me # life will not end it just challenges #YOU

Deal with the shame it's deserved but don't let it engulf your new thoughts!
I promised to never ever make that mistake again and what a relief that inner feeling of non regret x take care bud
 
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Can anyone tell me when the depression lifts after you receive an 18 month driving ban? I have no interest in anything and my family are devastated today as my name was in the local paper.
 
Can anyone tell me when the depression lifts after you receive an 18 month driving ban? I have no interest in anything and my family are devastated today as my name was in the local paper.

Hi Elsa,

Were you offered the course when you attended court?

I can fully sympathise with you here, as can most people on this forum as we have all been through or are going through exactly the same thing you are.

I was originally disqualified for 42 months, so more than twice what you’re going through now and, like yourself, I was featured in the local paper. As the news story was then shared on social media, it didn’t take long for the keyboard warriors, do-gooders and curtain-twitchers to get their opinions in, most of which were completely invalid and there was the odd one which made me want to find the person and give them my 2 cents worth. It can be hard at first, but people have this amazing ability to forget things that generally don’t seem important. The main thing is that unless the reporters are really ‘bottom of the pile’ in terms of what newspaper they work for as well as general humanity, you won’t get your photograph published, which works as a blessing because lots of people have the same name!

Granted, the first weeks and months of your ban do seem like the end of the world and people are judging you because of what you’ve done. It’s at this time that you figure out who your friends really are, as true friends will help you out with lifts for example and make sure you’re doing OK.

The main thing to think about in the weeks after your disqualification is how are you going to make your situation better, not just how bad it currently is; transport may or may not be difficult where you live (I lived in a city when the offence occurred but then moved to a rural area where buses only come once or twice a day to the bus stop which is half a mile cross country), but family will take some time to come to terms with what has happened, after all, it’s a traumatic event which affects people in different ways.

Feel free to private message me should you need advice!

MM
 
Hi Elsa,

Were you offered the course when you attended court?

I can fully sympathise with you here, as can most people on this forum as we have all been through or are going through exactly the same thing you are.

I was originally disqualified for 42 months, so more than twice what you’re going through now and, like yourself, I was featured in the local paper. As the news story was then shared on social media, it didn’t take long for the keyboard warriors, do-gooders and curtain-twitchers to get their opinions in, most of which were completely invalid and there was the odd one which made me want to find the person and give them my 2 cents worth. It can be hard at first, but people have this amazing ability to forget things that generally don’t seem important. The main thing is that unless the reporters are really ‘bottom of the pile’ in terms of what newspaper they work for as well as general humanity, you won’t get your photograph published, which works as a blessing because lots of people have the same name!

Granted, the first weeks and months of your ban do seem like the end of the world and people are judging you because of what you’ve done. It’s at this time that you figure out who your friends really are, as true friends will help you out with lifts for example and make sure you’re doing OK.

The main thing to think about in the weeks after your disqualification is how are you going to make your situation better, not just how bad it currently is; transport may or may not be difficult where you live (I lived in a city when the offence occurred but then moved to a rural area where buses only come once or twice a day to the bus stop which is half a mile cross country), but family will take some time to come to terms with what has happened, after all, it’s a traumatic event which affects people in different ways.

Feel free to private message me should you need advice!

MM
Thanks MM

My ban is 18 months after I complete the course. (I just can’t bear to say the full sentence). I too live in a rural area. Impossible to walk the two and half miles to bus stop as road is too dangerous - no footpath and no street lights in the late winter afternoons. My family think I am not humble enough even though I cried and apologised endlessly for weeks. When I try to put on a positive face and deal with the situation which I stupidly caused, that’s when I’m not humble apparently. The honest truth is I’m all cried out. I feel people think you must be a raging alcoholic if you are caught drink driving and I don’t think all the denying that you are not is ever going to be believed. I know plenty of people who still drink and drink over the limit so I hope they learn from me. My married daughter who has two small babies is now losing her hair and my husband who is having major problems dealing with my drink driving says it could be all the stress that I have caused her that could be causing her alopecia. It has to get easier. I love when it’s bedtime and I think well that’s another day over not driving just another few hundred to go. Elsa
 
Thanks MM

My ban is 18 months after I complete the course. (I just can’t bear to say the full sentence). I too live in a rural area. Impossible to walk the two and half miles to bus stop as road is too dangerous - no footpath and no street lights in the late winter afternoons. My family think I am not humble enough even though I cried and apologised endlessly for weeks. When I try to put on a positive face and deal with the situation which I stupidly caused, that’s when I’m not humble apparently. The honest truth is I’m all cried out. I feel people think you must be a raging alcoholic if you are caught drink driving and I don’t think all the denying that you are not is ever going to be believed. I know plenty of people who still drink and drink over the limit so I hope they learn from me. My married daughter who has two small babies is now losing her hair and my husband who is having major problems dealing with my drink driving says it could be all the stress that I have caused her that could be causing her alopecia. It has to get easier. I love when it’s bedtime and I think well that’s another day over not driving just another few hundred to go. Elsa
You really have to accept your situation and move on as its no good on your family,I have just applied for my licence after getting a ban for 2 years. Its 6 years now and i cut 2 fingers off in work which made me hit the drink with not being able to work being a self employed builder and the pain was unreal so drink was the only relief.
 
Hi Elsa I’m new on the boards and have and do feel so much empathy for you it was my second offence and I got 42 months it was inconceivable to me that I’d done a similar thing again .

the thing that annoys me is I’m not actually a drinker sounds crazy I know but I gave up alcohol in my thirties I’m now in my fifties , I did drink a bit due to bereavement ( not at the time but after everything calmed down) I drank what we had in the house and then went to walk across the road to get some more ... 25 meters ,anyway a guy had two big pit bulls off their leads in my cul de sac .. so I got in the car and nipped across , no spaces , one way system , supermarket tipped off police and they pulled up in car park .. first horrific but not in paper thank god .. said and meant I’d never do again barely drank anything ever .

Packed up work 3.5 years ago in London drank some champagne got train home walked 100 yards to my flat opened a bottle of wine phoned just eat from around 9.45 till 10.30 looking for anyone who would deliver , nobody ,so called local takeaway 100 yards away and he said too late for delivery.

I said I’ll give you 20 quid just to drop me some noodles ( I can see it from my house).

he said nope just drive I even said no way did it before got caught anyway he said it’s only a short distance I said no at least two more times and anyway he said he’d cook anything I liked when I got there so I drove ,my tiny village had the police parked up because main station closed and they bloody asked me 3 times the last time I’d said can’t you let me walk it’s only there and pointed he said “ well I’ll ask you one more time ‘ can you believe it I still said yes ( didn’t want to make worse by lying) he said well I’ve asked you 3 times now so he breathalysed me and had to drive me 20 miles to nearest open police station at the end of his shift.
Personally I think he may have wanted me to say no but who knows, I didn’t say any of that in court .

I went in the paper and all over social media , my daughters husbands have ridiculously good careers and they are also ashamed as I am still .

I have barely left my flat in 3.5 years my ban is over and I’m waiting on a medical the absolute only advice I can give is get out there don’t do what I’m doing , I have alopecia due to stress the time has dragged , join some groups , away and try to live .
The few times I’ve been out people have been nice and chatty , I really feel for you but it will end I promise.

im actually more stressed waiting for them to process my application than I have been all the way through but it will end .. I wish I could help more xxx feel free to dm if you want ( first time I’ve posted so not sure if you can xx
 
Hi Elsa I’m new on the boards and have and do feel so much empathy for you it was my second offence and I got 42 months it was inconceivable to me that I’d done a similar thing again .

the thing that annoys me is I’m not actually a drinker sounds crazy I know but I gave up alcohol in my thirties I’m now in my fifties , I did drink a bit due to bereavement ( not at the time but after everything calmed down) I drank what we had in the house and then went to walk across the road to get some more ... 25 meters ,anyway a guy had two big pit bulls off their leads in my cul de sac .. so I got in the car and nipped across , no spaces , one way system , supermarket tipped off police and they pulled up in car park .. first horrific but not in paper thank god .. said and meant I’d never do again barely drank anything ever .

Packed up work 3.5 years ago in London drank some champagne got train home walked 100 yards to my flat opened a bottle of wine phoned just eat from around 9.45 till 10.30 looking for anyone who would deliver , nobody ,so called local takeaway 100 yards away and he said too late for delivery.

I said I’ll give you 20 quid just to drop me some noodles ( I can see it from my house).

he said nope just drive I even said no way did it before got caught anyway he said it’s only a short distance I said no at least two more times and anyway he said he’d cook anything I liked when I got there so I drove ,my tiny village had the police parked up because main station closed and they bloody asked me 3 times the last time I’d said can’t you let me walk it’s only there and pointed he said “ well I’ll ask you one more time ‘ can you believe it I still said yes ( didn’t want to make worse by lying) he said well I’ve asked you 3 times now so he breathalysed me and had to drive me 20 miles to nearest open police station at the end of his shift.
Personally I think he may have wanted me to say no but who knows, I didn’t say any of that in court .

I went in the paper and all over social media , my daughters husbands have ridiculously good careers and they are also ashamed as I am still .

I have barely left my flat in 3.5 years my ban is over and I’m waiting on a medical the absolute only advice I can give is get out there don’t do what I’m doing , I have alopecia due to stress the time has dragged , join some groups , away and try to live .
The few times I’ve been out people have been nice and chatty , I really feel for you but it will end I promise.

im actually more stressed waiting for them to process my application than I have been all the way through but it will end .. I wish I could help more xxx feel free to dm if you want ( first time I’ve posted so not sure if you can xx
Thanks LucyLucy for your reply. I’ll try and pm you x. Can anyone tell me how to pm or dm someone on this forum.
Elsa70
Thanks.
 
I'm not sure if you can? I'm mega stressed sent I have the medichecks kit so getting that tomorrow, HI Elsa I'm having a look now x
 
Elsa, when you have posted at least 3 times, your name goes from New Member to Member. Then you can post private messages.
you click on the name of the person you want to message in the left hand column, then click on Start Conversation and you can speak with that person without it appearing on here.
 
Elsa, when you have posted at least 3 times, your name goes from New Member to Member. Then you can post private messages.
you click on the name of the person you want to message in the left hand column, then click on Start Conversation and you can speak with that person without it appearing on here.
Thank you. Elsa
 
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