Sleepwalk claim of man asleep at wheel - The Evesham Observer

Sleepwalk claim of man asleep at wheel

Evesham Editorial 8th May, 2014 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

A PLUMBER was found asleep at the wheel of his car after allegedly sleep-walking to the vehicle, a court has heard.

Joshua Bird, of Tudor Way in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, was on a job in Evesham and had stayed at the Premier Inn at Evesham Country Park, Trunk Road, after work on March 18.

Police were on patrol on the A46 about 1.30am when they noticed the 20-year-old’s blue Ford Focus was parked at a 90 degree angle on an access road to the A46, Worcester Magistrates Court heard on Friday (May 2).

Officers approached the car and saw Mr Bird, who wasn’t wearing any shoes, had one sock on and no top under his coat, asleep in the drivers seat and when they opened the door it smelt strongly of alcohol.




Mr Bird said he remembered he parked his vehicle in the hotel’s car park, before going to the pub and having a few drinks.

He then went back to a friends room where they carried on drinking but he went back to his room at 11.30pm and reportedly


fell asleep.

The court also heard how Bird couldn’t explain the events after he went to bed, but made the District Judge aware he had a past of sleep-walking, and that was the only possible answer.

Bird pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle while above the legal alcohol limit. Officers breathalysed him at the scene and he blew 95 microgrammes of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath.

District Judge Nigel Cadbury disqualified him from driving for 28 days and ordered him to pay a fine of £215, court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £21.

Bird, defending himself, said: “I just have no recollection of leaving my bed at all.”

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