Dorset man who stopped to help police at accident scene was more than three times drink drive limit

William Matthew Tedds, of Martingdale Close in Upton, was more than three times the legal limit when he stopped his car and approached officers who were dealing with a single-vehicle crash to offer help, a court heard.

The 40-year-old appeared at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on June 9 for sentencing after pleading guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle whilst over the legal alcohol limit.

Prosecuting, Nicola Reece told the court that just before 8pm on March 30 this year, police officers had been dealing with a single-vehicle incident on the A35 near Wareham.

Ms Reece said that whilst dealing with that incident, a second vehicle, a Jeep Wrangler, drove by and stopped on a nearby verge. The driver of the second vehicle, Tedds, approached officers to see if he could help. The court heard that police could ‘immediately’ see Tedds was ‘unsteady on his feet’ and became suspicious that he was intoxicated and was driving whilst unfit to do so.

A sample of breath was taken from Tedds and it showed that he had 113 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Tedds appeared in court unrepresented. He told magistrates he felt he had little to add to the report which had been prepared for sentencing and said that due to the fact he had his licence taken away he was not currently working.

Chair of the bench Michael Trevett told the court that the magistrates had read in the report that Tedds had been receiving support from the Royal Marines Association.

Mr Trevett told Tedds: “You have had a lengthy career serving our country and that is absolutely to your credit.”

Tedds was given a 12-month community order and must undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He must also pay a victim surcharge of £95 as well as £85 towards court costs.

Tedds was also given a 26-month disqualification from driving by the magistrates.