A FORMER soldier and a Bournemouth University student are the first drink drivers to be sentenced following a Dorset Police Christmas crackdown.

At Bournemouth Magistrates Court last Tuesday, Anthony Baker, who was a soldier in the British Army for nine years, admitted driving while over the limit on December 12 in Kitchener Crescent in Poole.

The 27-year-old, who went on two tours of Iraq, had been found by police in the early hours standing next to his vehicle, which he had crashed into two parked cars.

He admitted the offence immediately.

The court heard that Baker, although he planned to rejoin the Army soon, would present no excuses for his actions and wanted no “platitudes” offered by way of mitigation.

“There are not many defendants as candid,” said his counsel.

In court on the same day, Rosie Millais, 22, admitted driving while over the limit in Bournemouth on December 10.

The Hampshire student, who is studying nutrition in Bournemouth, said she believed she was fine to drive following a night out when, at around 5am, she reversed her Vauxhall Corsa while on Corporation Road and hit another vehicle.

In fact, Millais was nearly twice the drink drive limit.

“She thinks of herself as a law-abiding citizen, it was a stupid mistake and she is very sorry for it,” said Mike Flynn in mitigation.

Baker, of Charborough Road, Broadstone, was fined £240 with £85 costs and a £24 victim surcharge, and was banned from driving for 12 months.

Millais, of Churt near Farnham, was fined £110 with £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge, and was disqualified for 17 months.

The county-wide Christmas drink drive campaign ran from December 1-31, and saw 30 people charged with drink or drug-related driving offences.