Crash OAP pledges never to drive again (From York Press)

John Michael Duffus, 68, pledges never to drive again

8:45am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Megi Rychlikova, megi.rychlikova@thepress.co.uk

A MOTORIST will never drive again after he went drink-driving through snow, black ice and rush-hour city-centre traffic, York magistrates heard.

John Michael Duffus, 68, told the court he was “flabbergasted” when he tested positive for alcohol following the crash he caused in Leadmill Lane at 4.30pm on Wednesday, February 13.

He claimed he had not had a drink all day.

He said he would not apply for his licence back after serving his driving ban, adding: “I am going blind anyway.”

It was the second drink-drive conviction in eight years for the pensioner, who is on long-term medication.

On hearing the name of his medicine, the bench chairman said she was sure doctors would have told him not to take alcohol.

“I can’t recall,” he said.

Duffus, of Park Court, off Bad Bargain Lane in Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was banned for three years.

He was also fined £265 plus a £27 victim surcharge, plus £85 prosecution costs.

Magistrates did not offer him a chance to reduce his ban by taking a drink-drive rehabilitation course after hearing he had taken one in 2005.

Martin Townend, prosecuting, said on February 13, the roads had had a covering of snow.

Duffus was travelling relatively slowly but skidded when he braked and hit the back of the Rover in front. Police called to deal with the crash smelt alcohol on his breath and breathalysed him.

Duffus gave a reading of 60 millilitres in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35ml.

Duffus said he had hit black ice as he turned his vehicle. He had not had a drink since he had been watching football the previous evening, when he had had some spirits.

“Unbeknown to me at the time, I had a bacterial lung infection, but I didn’t know about it then. That could have affected my judgment,” he said about his decision to drive.

At the time, the driver of the Rover told police he believed the pensioner had been drinking.