THREE Somerset drivers have faced magistrates' courts in Cardiff and Wiltshire since the start of last week for drink-driving offences. 

The three men were caught driving despite being over the legal drink-drive limit. 

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the drink-drive limit for alcohol is: 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath; 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, and 107 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine. 

Jason Maldwyn Gent

A man from Bishop's Hull has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with over three times the legal amount of alcohol in his breath. 

Jason Maldwyn Gent, of Shutewater Orchard, was driving an Audi A5 on Brackla Street in Bridgend, Wales, after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath measured 132 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Gent, 40, was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 36 months at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, October 28.  

He was also fined £400 and ordered to pay a £40 surcharge to fund victim services and costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

A community order for 25 days of rehabilitation activity was also made.

Gent also pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on the road without third-party insurance, but he did not receive a seperate penalty.  

Jeremy Richard Stelcel

On Wednesday, September 22, Jeremy Richard Stelcel drove a Volkswagen Golf on Frome Road in Wiltshire when the proportion of alcohol in his breath measured 50 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.

Stelcel, of The Butts, Frome, was fined £80 at South East Wiltshire Magistrates’ Court on Friday, October 29.

The 32-year-old was also ordered to pay a £34 surcharge to fund victim services and costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service, giving him a total of £199 to pay by November 22. 

Stelcel was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a year.

His disqualification will be reduced by 13 weeks if he completes a driving course approved by the Secretary of State by May 29, 2022.

The cost of the course will not exceed £250.

Stelcel’s guilty plea was considered when the sentence was passed.

Lee Robert Barnes

Lee Robert Barnes was caught driving a Ford Focus on County Way in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, when the proportion of alcohol in his breath measured 86 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.

He committed the offence on Saturday, September 11.

Barnes, of Old Gas Works, Frome, was ordered to pay a total of £503 after pleading guilty to the offence at South East Wiltshire Magistrates’ Court on Monday, October 25.

This consisted of a £380 fine, a £38 surcharge to fund victim services, and costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

He has until November 22 to pay his balance.

Barnes, 35, was also disqualified from driving for 20 months.

His disqualification may be reduced by 20 weeks if he completes a course approved by the Secretary of State by December 3, 2022.

The cost of the course will not exceed £250.

Barnes also pleaded guilty to failing to stop when required by a constable in uniform, but he did not receive a separate penalty.

Read more: On this day: The first breathalyser test was administered​