A father-of-three from Cradley Heath is waiting for benefits to kick in after a drink-drive arrest cost him his job. Gelvin Lyons, 42, admitted he made the wrong decision when he got behind the wheel following an argument with his wife.
Incident on The Promenade
Police were called to The Promenade in Brierley Hill on June 9 following reports of a collision. Officers found Lyons in the driver's seat of his silver Ford Fiesta, with keys in the ignition and the engine still running.
Lyons, of Vestry Close, Cradley Heath, was taken into custody where he provided two evidential breath tests. The lowest reading showed 102 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, nearly three times the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
Court Hearing and Guilty Plea
During a hearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 9, Lyons pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above the limit. In mitigation, the court was told that Lyons had made the 'wrong decision' after an argument with his wife.
The court also heard that Lyons had lost his job as a warehouse driver as a result of the arrest, causing his income to drop. He is now waiting for benefits to begin.
Sentence and Consequences
Lyons was given a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for 42 months and must pay a victim surcharge of £114 and £85 in costs.
The case highlights the serious consequences of drink-driving, including job loss and financial hardship.
