Drink driving soldier caught on Norwich boozy night out

Peter Evers, 22, was stopped at the wheel of a Ford Transit after police saw it swerving erratically on Rose Lane. 

The highlander with the Royal Regiment of Scotland was found to be over the limit and only had a provisional driving licence.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told he had been attempting to move the van on behalf of someone else during a night out with fellow soldiers on November 4. 

READ MORE: Norfolk police launch Christmas drink and drug driving crackdown

Sally Harris, prosecuting, said police officers had smelt alcohol after stopping him and that after failing a roadside breath test he had recorded a reading of 59 - the legal limit is 35.

Serving solider Peter Evers (in check shirt) leaving Norwich Magistrates' Court (Image: Newsquest)

Evers, who appeared in the dock out of uniform and gave his address as Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence. 

He was banned from driving for 16 months and told to pay fines and costs of £579.

Jonathan Perkins, mitigating, said: “He had been on a night out with others and he was moving the van for the convenience of the driver to Rose Lane car park.

“When stopped he had travelled just 100 yards and he cooperated fully and accepted he had been drinking and ought not to have been driving. 

“This is a young man acting unwisely. It was out of character for him.”

Evers was stopped while drunk at the wheel of a van on Rose Lane in Norwich (Image: Google)

READ MORE: Drink driving soldier crashed car into Norfolk field

Catterick is the home garrison of the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Highlanders.

Mr Perskins said the soldier had been due to be promoted to a lance corporal next month but his conviction meant this would now be delayed by at least a year resulting in the loss of a £300 a month salary increase. 

Magistrates told him: “This was a very poor decision on your part and an expensive one.”