16-month drive ban for teacher over limit

Jan 12 2008 by Wendy Horton, South Wales Echo

A RESPECTED teacher has been caught drink-driving.

Alun Jones, 53, a member of staff at his school for 30 years, was over the legal drink-drive limit when he was stopped by police in his BMW following a works event just before Christmas.

Caerphilly magistrates were told Jones, a senior assistant headteacher at St Martin’s Comprehensive in Caerphilly, had gone to a pub with colleagues but had no intention to drive.

While there, the single parent who regularly took his elderly mother shopping, received a friendly text from his ex-partner, who was also a work colleague, asking him about the event and she ended up joining the party.

But as they had split from a three- year relationship only months before, Jones got upset and left the pub.

Ross Williams, defending, said: “As it was just before Christmas there was a feeling of loneliness and he left the pub and went for a walk.

“He was away for a considerable time and then went back.”

Mr Williams said some time later, Jones became concerned for his ex-partner who left the pub so he went home to get his car and parked it up.

He then ended up driving it a short distance before being stopped by police.

Tests showed Jones had 59 micrograms of alcohol to 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit being 35.

Jones, of Dan y Coed, Caerphilly, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and was banned from driving for 16 months.

He was also ordered to pay a £500 fine, £42 costs and a £15 victims surcharge.

Magistrates chairman Alun Humphreys said: “It’s sad to see a man of your position here.”

A spokesman for Caerphilly council said the incident was one for the school to deal with itself and was not a matter for the local education authority. Nobody at the school was available for comment.

wendy.horton@mediawales.co.uk