Ban for drink-drive businessman thrown out of wine bar with his wife

Karl Chander, of Sorrel Close, Featherstone, was pulled over in Shrewsbury during a night out in the town with his wife on March 31.

Telford Magistrates Court heard that the couple booked into a hotel and were drinking in a wine bar when Mrs Chander argued with the bar staff and they were asked to leave.

Miss Amy Davies, prosecuting, said: “At 8.10pm police officers pulled over a white Mercedes being driven in Hills Lane. The defendant was driving when it was stopped and the officers could smell alcohol. He failed the roadside breath test and was taken to the police station where a lower reading was taken.”

Chander measured 86 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Ms Lucy Whittaker, defending, said Chander’s metal polishing business recently suffered a burglary that left them £10,000 out of pocket and the couple decided to treat themselves to a short break.

She said: “He has no previous convictions at all. On the evening in question he had decided to go away with his wife for the night with his wife. They booked into a hotel with a wine bar underneath.

“Unfortunately Mr Chander’s wife got into an argument with the bar staff and he struggled to calm her down.

“He took her outside with the help of the door staff. He got her in the car, but then he made the stupid decision to drive it. When he was stopped, to his credit, he remained calm and was accepting of the offence.

"However, his wife wasn’t calm and was issued with a fixed penalty ticket for being drunk and disorderly by the officers,” Ms Whittaker said.

Chander, 46, admitted driving with excess alcohol. The defendant was banned for 17 months, fined £315, and ordered to pay costs £135 and victim surcharge £32. He will also be subject to a drivers’ rehabilitation course.