Drink-problem bus-driver ‘grateful’ he was stopped (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Drink-problem bus-driver ‘grateful’ he was stopped

1:20pm Sunday 25th July 2010 in

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THE Chandler’s Ford bus-driver who was stopped by police after an anonymous drink-drive tipoff has been sacked banned, fined and ordered to carry out community work.

Brian Bishop got behind the wheel of a doubledecker on a Saturday evening having knocked back “a couple of strong vodkas” at 4.30am the same day.

Police swooped on the No 1 Bluestar bus service from Southampton to Winchester after an anonymous tip-off.

Bishop’s blood-alcohol reading was 133 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood, more than half as much again above the limit of 80.

Prosecutor, Marie Watton, told Southampton Magistrates’ Court how police had been tipped off abnout Bishop’s condition as he left Hanover Buildings, in Southampton city centre.

Officers stopped his bus 25 minutes later at the top of The Avenue near the Chilworth roundabout, where Bishop was found to be over the limit.

Bishop, 54, of Devon Close, Chandler’s Ford, who chose not to be legally represented in court, said he had drunk the vodka before bed after finishing his night shift and he added that he had not thought that he would still be over the limit.

“The next thing I know, I was coming up The Avenue and a police car came in front of me and pulled me over,” he said.

Bishop, who is married, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the legal limit.

He admitted that he had had an alcohol problem since the death of his mother more than 20 years ago.

He said he had started rehabilitation at Spencer House, in Winchester, and was not now drinking as heavily.

Presiding magistrate, Chris Giles, said it was a serious matter because of the fact that he was in a position of responsibility.

He said: “There were serious aggravating factors in this. You were driving a public vehicle. You were carrying passengers and you admit that you have been drinking heavily for some time.”

The court heard how Bishop had now realised what a danger to the public he had caused and that was grateful police had stopped him before an accident happened.

Bishop, who was previously good character, was given 60 hours of unpaid community work, an £85 fine and a 16-month driving ban which the court said would be reduced by four months if he completed a drink impaired drivers rehabilitation course.

Following an internal investigation, Bishop was dismissed by his employers.

Chris Harris, Bluestar’s public relations manager, said: “The company’s rules concerning the consumption of alcoholic beverages are very clear; no employee may attend for duty unless absolutely sober and taking any form of alcohol while on duty is expressly prohibited.

“The safety of our customers and of other road users is our prime consideration, and these rules are very strictly enforced.”