Careless driver keen to be an instructor.

Byline: Alex Moore

A CONVICTED drink-driver could be allowed to teach people how to drive.

A judge told Gavin James Williams Davies, who also has a conviction for careless driving, that he could be the ideal role model to show learner drivers how not to behave on the road.

The 28-year-old, from Eleanor Street, Tonypandy, faced losing his driving licence, which would have disqualified him from attending a driving instructor teaching course, after he admitted three offences last month.

But a judge this week drew back from banning Davies, although he admitted it was "charitable".

District Judge Vivian Manning-Davies told Davies: "Perhaps you are best suited to teach young drivers how not to do it."

Kelly Huggins, prosecuting, told Pontypridd Magistrates' Court Davies had crashed his car while carrying two passengers in Treorchy in October.

The former builder pleaded guilty to careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report it within 24 hours, as required by law.

Summarising the charges, Judge Manning-Davies said: "Because of the way you were driving, you left the road and collided with a boundary wall. You later told the police you were avoiding a dog. There's always a dog, in my experience.

"We see a lot of drivers in this court, and they normally either say there was a dog or the sun got in their eyes, and as this happened at 1am there was only one option.

"And after the crash, despite having occupants in the car, you left the scene. That's a pretty appalling thing to do."

The court heard Davies would not be eligible for Red Dragon Driving School's instructor course if he had a disqualification in the four years leading up to his enrolment date.

An 18-month ban imposed in 2002 for drink-driving was too old to count, the court heard.

Gayle Stanley, in mitigation, said Davies "severely regretted" his actions, adding that he hoped they would not preclude him from a potential career as a driving instructor.

Judge Manning-Davies said: "This case deserves to attract a fine of about pounds 1,000 but, because your means are modest - you are on benefits - the rules prohibit me from doing that."

Instead of a driving ban, the judge fined Davies pounds 255, gave him seven penalty points and ordered him to pay pounds 85 costs.

Judge Manning-Davies added: "I've been extremely charitable in this case."