A former army chef has been banned from driving for three years for drink driving.

Jody Latus, 23, appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday where he admitted driving while over the limit.

He had also admitted driving without insurance, failing to report an accident and failing to stop after an accident at an earlier hearing.

The court heard how Latus, now of Winchcombe Road, Blackpool, had been driving a Toyota Yaris in Trinity Street, Colchester, at 11.10pm on September 26.

He drove the car into three parked vehicles and was seen by a number of people, who had just parked their cars, and was also caught on CCTV.

Police later arrested him at Goojerat Barracks in Colchester and a breath test showed he had 82mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Mitigating, James Baird Murray, told the court Latus had borrowed the car from his girlfriend and was on the way to pick her up from work when the accident happened.

He said Trinity Street is very narrow and the cars involved in the accident were parked half on the road and half on the pavement.

He added: "It was an error of judgement that led to the collision with the first vehicle and the narrowness of the road led to the other two vehicles being damaged."

Mr Baird Murray said: "Although there was an accident, nobody was injured and only cars were damaged, no persons were injured or put in danger."

He explained Latus was living at the barracks in Colchester at the time and was working as a member of the catering corps in the army. He said he had been in the army for eight years and was about to be discharged when the accident happened.

Magistrates fined Latus £600, ordered him to pay £70 court costs, endorsed his driving licence and banned him from driving for three years

Published Wednesday January 28, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette