An Alderney resident pleaded guilty drink driving and driving off after a collision with the island train.
Ken Hampton, 70, appeared in court charged with driving with excess alcohol in his system and driving away after his car clipped the side of the train.
Sergeant Colin Solway told Jurats that the accident happened at about 4.15pm on Sunday July 7th when the train was returning from Mannez Quarry to the station at Braye Common with a number of passengers on board. As the driver approached the Battery Quarry crossing at Newtown he sounded the horn and became aware of a car at the crossing which seemed to have stopped. Believing it to be safe he continued to the crossing, when the car started rolling forward and hit the train. The driver, he said, seemed to be looking down at the floor. Then he reversed and drove off along Newtown. But the guard was able to identify Mr Hampton and contacted the police. The police arrived at his home in the Le Colimbot where they found a car in the drive with damage consistent with such an accident. He was blood tested and found him to be over the legal limit for driving. Mr Hampton explained that he had consumed a drink at the Marais Hall at lunchtime and following the accident, had drunk a gin and tonic at home to calm his nerves.
Defending, advocate Sarah Mallet said Mr Hampton had heard a faint noise at the crossing but he hadn't known what it was or where it was coming from. He looked left and saw nothing and by the time he looked right, she said, the train was in front of him and he was unable to stop the car. "He panicked and drove away in shock," she explained.
She said he was of previous exemplary character and his driving record of 50 years was otherwise unblemished.
He was banned from driving for a total of 12 months and fined £500 for drink driving and £200 for failing to stop after an accident.
Chairman of the Jurats Neil Hunter said: "The Jurats regard both matters seriously and it was only good fortune that no-one was injured or worse.
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors.
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors. 