Van driver admits hitting Mercedes Benz while over the alcohol limit

Sunday 15 January 2023

A van driver has pleaded guilty to hitting a Mercedes Benz while under the influence of alcohol - and then failing to report what had happened.

Paul Le Neveu (60) was driving his white Ford Transit van out of the Les Quennevais Precinct car park in St. Brelade on the afternoon of 11 December when he collided with the parked vehicle.

St. Brelade Centenier Amanda Wright told the Magistrate's Court that another driver who witnessed the accident followed Le Neveu.

She said: "He came over to the witness's vehicle and said: 'Are you following me?'

"She said: 'Yes, and you know why, don't you?'"

"The witness could smell alcohol on his breath."

The police were called and Le Neveu was found to have 62 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal maximum is 35.

Magistrate Bridget Shaw said that the offence "crosses the custody threshold" because Le Neveu had left the scene of the accident.

But she adjourned sentencing until 25 January and he was released on bail.