‘I wish I could jail you for longer' (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

‘I wish I could jail you for longer'

5:54pm Monday 23rd April 2007

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A DRUNKEN, banned driver three times over the limit was told by a magistrate that he wished he could have put him behind bars for longer.

Mark Wardle, 33, had had "a skinful," the night before he was caught out at 10.30am, Burnley Magistrates heard.

Father of three Wardle, of Glenfield Road, Nelson, was sent to prison for 120 days after admitting driving whilst disqualified, with excess alcohol and no insurance.

Sentencing, magistrate Tony Winder said the defendant was a danger to the public, a persistent offender and his record was abysmal.

He continued:"You are a menace to other road users.

"People like you should be locked up even longer.

"I really hope you will have learned the error of your ways but I think not."

Wendy Chappell, prosecuting, said police saw Wardletravelling in Burnley and pulled in to let him pass on a busy street.

They noticed Wardle, knew he was banned and stopped him.

He was drunk, arrested and taken to the police station.

The defendant gave a test which revealed 103 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

He had 22 previous convictions, including nine for driving whilst disqualified.

Geoff Ireland, defending, said Wardle, who had spent the night with friends, had borrowed a car and wanted to see the mother of two of his children and his mother who was depressed and had been suicidal.

The solicitor went on: "He had had a skinful the night before.

He didn't realise he was still over the limit."

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