Sub-postmaster banned
Sep 27 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal
AVILLAGE sub-postmaster whose business faces closure was caught drink driving twice within 48 hours, a court was told yesterday.
Michael Towart, 64, was almost four times the legal limit for driving when his car was first stopped by police in Cramlington, Northumberland last Saturday night.
Two days later he was more than twice the limit when he was again breathalysed after driving home from a nearby pub.
Yesterday magistrates were told that Towart – who has run the sub-post office in Holywell, Seaton Delaval, for 13 years – had a lot on his mind when he committed the offences. His branch is one of those due to be axed under the national Post Office closure programme, and he was worried about the safety of his daughter, who is travelling alone in India.
Yesterday Towart, of Ringwood Drive, Cramlington, was given a suspended four-week prison sentence and banned from driving for three years by Bedlington magistrates after admitting two charges of driving with excess alcohol. He was also given a 12-month supervision order, with an alcohol treatment requirement, and ordered to pay £86 costs.
Ruth Castle, prosecuting, said Towart's Mazda car was stopped by a police officer in Cramlington at 7pm last Saturday. A police station test gave a reading of 123 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35. On Monday evening police received a report that Towart was driving home from the Fat Ox pub in Holywell after drinking there, and stopped him when he returned to his house. This time a sample gave a reading of 83 microgrammes.
Earlier this week magistrates called for probation service reports on Towart, saying they were considering a custodial sentence for the offences.
Paul Dunn, defending, said last weekend Towart had been concerned about the looming closure of his sub-post office.
He was also worried about his daughter, who went to live in New Zealand following her marriage break-up and is currently travelling through volatile areas of India.
He said Towart, who had served a 12-month ban for drink driving three years ago, has sought help from Alcoholics Anonymous.
