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Legal News

SKY Sports Presenter Convicted of Drink Driving Whilst Hungover (29 September 2017)

Date: 29/09/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, SKY Sports Presenter Convicted of Drink Driving Whilst Hungover

Sky Sports presenter, Kirsty Gallacher, was found to be almost three times over the legal limit after being arrested in Eton, Berkshire, in August and has been sentenced to a two year disqualification from driving.

The TV presenter had admitted drink driving after being seen driving erratically the morning after a night out with her friends. The court at Slough heard how Gallacher was found to be almost three times over the legal limit.

In addition to the two year disqualification, Gallacher was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid community work.

The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant was on her way to meet her children when witnesses spotted her driving erratically at about 11am. Officers used CCTV to find her BMW X4 parked on Eton High Street and subsequently conducted a roadside breathalyser test that showed her alcohol level was 106 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath.

The drink-drive limit in England and Wales is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres.

Jennifer Dempster, representing Gallacher said that her client drank very rarely, and had taken a taxi home before going to collect her car the following morning.

“This is, of course, the morning after drinking, and it is a topic which is a hot one at present. This is, in many senses, unintentional drink-driving,” she said. Dempster also said that Gallacher’s two young children had not been in her car. “What this defendant did was exactly right until 11 o’clock the next morning,” she said.

District Judge Davinder Lachhar said: “It is a very high rate. It is almost three times the amount of the limit.” Probation officer Jasvir Kaur Bhatti said Gallacher was very remorseful and “very much regrets what happened”.

Duncan Lewis’ View

It seems that Ms Gallacher made the all-too-common mistake of assuming she was below the legal limit the morning after having consumed alcohol. We often represent clients who are in the exact same position and what connects them all is the lack of intention to drive whilst over the limit.

We have all experienced mornings where we wake up after a night of drinking and can still feel its lingering effects (the dreaded hangover). It is this feeling that would usually tell motorists not to drive. There are times however where you wake feeling absolutely fine but unfortunately this is not an indication of you blood/alcohol level and motorists should always err on the side of caution.

We would urge all motorists to try and avoid driving the day following alcohol consumption, particularly heavy consumption. Whilst you may not still feel its effects, the alcohol in your system can almost certainly still affect you and your standard of driving.

Should you be stopped by police (for any reason) and found to be over the limit you will be charged for drink driving and face prosecution.

A conviction of drink driving can result in a minimum disqualification of 12 months in addition to a financial penalty. More serious cases can result in a lengthier ban, community service or even a prison sentence.

If you have been charged with drink driving we would urge you to contact us for help as soon as possible and review the information on this site.

Author Neil Sargeant is a Road Traffic specialist within the Duncan Lewis Crime Department, based in Harrow. He has specialised in Road Traffic Law since 2008, establishing close working relationships with some of the country’s leading experts in this field and maintaining an outstanding record of client acquittals. His specialist expertise stretch across road traffic law, but are most extensive in:

  • Drink Driving (with breath, blood or urine samples);
  • Drug Driving;
  • Failing to provide a specimen for analysis whether this be breath, blood or urine;
  • Being drunk in charge of a vehicle;
  • Any type of road traffic case that involves a procedure conducted at hospital;
  • Dangerous & Careless driving; and
  • Cases involving a fatality.


Duncan Lewis Road Traffic Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Solicitors are specialists in road traffic law, with particular expertise in drug and alcohol-related motoring offences. We can provide free and comprehensive legal advice on any motoring prosecution, regardless of the allegations.

It is crucial that you seek legal advice immediately, as an early opinion in your case can make a significant difference to the end result. Duncan Lewis Solicitors can be on hand to deal with whatever motoring law issue you may have.

For specialist advice please call our Road Traffic specialist Neil Sargeant on 02031141145 or email him on neils@duncanlewis.com.

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
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