A moment of drunken stupidity has proved costly for an aspiring Royal Marine.
Thomas Lloyd Hope, of Merthyr Road, Aberdare, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and taking a vehicle without consent when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 22nd January 2019.
Magistrates heard how Hope was out celebrating on New Year's Eve when he noticed a moped propped against some railings in Tenby. The 23 year-old kitchen fitter hopped on the moped and free-wheeled it down the street.
A special constable shouted for Hope to stop, but he carried on until he dropped the bike against a pillar causing scratches. He was arrested shortly afterwards and provided a positive roadside breath test.
Hope was later found to have 84 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35 microgrammes.
Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said: "He never even started (the moped). This is a stupid prank by this young man, which will have consequences for him for quite some time."
David Bowen, defending, said: "In a moment of madness he saw the moped and as a joke, a very stupid prank, he got on it and free-wheeled. He was almost paddling it along with his feet down the road.
"It was never more than walking speed for the whole episode. He is very, very remorseful."
Magistrates banned Hope from driving for 17 months and fined him £350. He was ordered to pay £200 compensation, £85 costs and a £35 victim surcharge.
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