Long Stratton man handed driving ban at Norwich Magistrates Court after crashing Beryl scooter

An 18-year-old man from Long Stratton who crashed an e-scooter while almost three times over the drink drive limit has been banned from driving.

Ryo Welch, of Patrick Road, drove a Beryl scooter into a parked car in Norwich, smashing the windscreen.

Police were called at 2.50pm to Trafford Road on Sunday, August 14, by a member of the public who witnessed the collision and could smell alcohol.

Officers attended and carried out a breath test which recorded Welch as having 96 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath, with the limit being 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres.

Welch appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court on Tuesday 13 September where he admitted driving with excess alcohol.

He was disqualified from driving for 20 months, which can be reduced by 20 weeks if he completes a driving course.

He was also fined £500 and told to pay a victim surcharge of £200 and costs of £105.

Inspector Simon Jones, from the Roads and Armed Policing Team said: “It is good to see the sentence that has been handed down in this case.

“I hope this will serve as a timely reminder to those people who still do not realise that e-scooters are governed by the same rules and legislation as other vehicles on our roads.

“If you wish to ride an e-scooter, it must be from one of the trial schemes currently being run and you must not do so whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.”