Mostyn veteran loses licence after motoring offences

Callam Whyatt, of Bryn Tirion in Rhewl Mostyn, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Friday morning.

The 37-year-old had previously admitted driving whilst banned and uninsured, drink-driving and failing to provide a specimen of breath.

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, told the court that on July 21 this year, police in Prestatyn saw the defendant driving at what they considered to be "excess speed" and so stopped him.

Whyatt admitted having had "a few beers" prior to driving, and a roadside breath sample confirmed he was over the limit.

Mr Scholz said Whyatt was a banned driver - a matter he was "fully aware" of.

In custody, he gave a breath sample which revealed he had 61 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the limit being 35.

Then, on September 22, police were alerted to an incident involving a vehicle colliding with - and driving onto - a roundabout on the A541 at Deeside.

The vehicle was registered to the defendant.

When he was spoken to by police, he was unsteady on his feet and smelled of intoxicants.

It appeared to the police that he was "drunk," Mr Scholz said.

But he refused to engage with a breath test at the roadside or whilst in custody; his behaviour being described as "argumentative."

Instead, he called the officer dealing with him a "corrupt c***."

Mr Scholz told the court Whyatt had 14 previous convictions for 23 offences, including nine breaches of a court order and three of driving with excess alcohol.

It was also stated that the offending put him in breach of a previously imposed suspended sentence.

Representing himself at the hearing, Whyatt told the court he previously served in HM Armed Forces, in the Royal Corps of Engineers.

He told the court he'd been "subjected to the horrors of war," which resulted in him developing "significant mental health issues."

As such, he said, he resorted to self-medicating with alcohol, which he recognised was "not acceptable."

He said: "As a Veteran, I should have held myself to a higher standard.

"I have let down my country, my regiment, my family and myself.

"I acknowledge I have been alcohol dependent and made poor choices.

"I have reflected a great deal and know I need to make positive change and seek treatment.

"I am committed to engaging with probation and mental health services on release and comply with all court orders."

Whyatt added that he had made contact with the probation service already and looked into potential therapy - but such treatments he would need are "not readily available at HMP Berwyn."

District Judge Gwyn Jones fined the defendant £100 for breaching his existing suspended sentence.

For the latest offences, he handed down a sentence of 20 weeks, but suspended it for two years.

Whyatt must comply with a probation requirement, 12 months of mental health treatment and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He must pay £200 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

Finally, the Judge imposed an overall driving ban of 65 months (17 of which represented his existing outstanding ban, and 48 months being newly imposed for the new offending).