Two Banbury men are given suspended prison sentences for drink driving with very high alcohol readings - Court report

Christian Vasiliu, 47, of Fergusson Road, Banbury was given a suspended prison sentence and banned from driving for 32 months after pleading guilty to drink driving in a black BMW in Fergusson Road on March 10.

He had 134 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath against a legal limit of 35 micrograms. Vasiliu was sentenced to ten weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, because of the seriousness of the offence, the high reading and the potential danger to other road users. He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. Vasiliu was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 and £85 court costs.

Richard Barlow, 55, of Withycombe Drive, Banbury was also given a suspended prison sentence and banned from driving for three years for drink driving. On January 9 Barlow drove a Volvo car in High Street Bloxham with excess alcohol. He had 148 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against a legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

He was given a four month prison sentence suspended for 15 months because of the very high reading. Barlow was subjected to a monitored alcohol abstinence order requiring him not to drink alcohol for 100 days. Barlow pleaded guilty.

The following cases were also heard at Oxford Magistrates' Court:

Callum Mark Jarvis, 21, of Horsefair, Banbury, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage to cars. On March 21, 2020 he damaged an Audi A3 in Banbury. On the same day he damaged a Vauxhall Vivaro belonging to Thames Valley Police in Abingdon. A community order was made requiring Jarvis to abstain from alcohol for 30 days, monitored by a responsible officer. He was ordered to pay compensation of £158.14 along with a victim surcharge of £95 and prosecution costs of £45.

Clara Boffin, 37, of Compton Court, Long Compton pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman in Bloxham on October 6, 2020. She was fined £100 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34 with £85 court costs.

Gulfraz Ashraf, 46, of Windrush, Banbury was fined £108 for breaking the 70mph speed limit on the M40 between Banbury and Bicester. His recorded speed was 88mph. Ashraf was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and court costs of £90. His driving licence was endorsed with three penalty points.

Simone Adams, 31, of Queen Street, Middleton Cheney was fined £120 for breaking the 30mph speed limit in Worcester Road, Chipping Norton on October 3, 2020. Her recorded speed was 53mph. Adams was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and £90 court costs.

Jack Ashley Whitton, 26, of Barford Road, Bloxham was fined £660 for failing to provide information between October 5 - November 2, 2020 relating to the driver of a Mitsubishi car alleged to have been guilty of an offence. Whitton was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and court costs of £90. His licence was endorsed with six points.

Trandafir Alexandru, 29, of Woodfield, Banbury was fined £660 for each of two cases of failing to provide information between December 2 - December 30, 2020 relating to the driver of a Peugeot car alleged to have been guilty of an offence in Banbury. Alexandru was ordered to pay court costs of £90 for each offence and his licence was endorsed with six penalty points for each occasion.

In a third case, Alexandru was fined £660 for failing to provide information relating to the driver of a Peugeot between December 2 - December 30, 2020. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190 and costs of £90 and he was banned from driving for six months for repeat offending.

Sophia Tapp of Farthinghoe Road, Charlton was fined £120 for driving without insurance in Milton Keynes. She was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and costs of £90. She was disqualified from driving for six months for repeat offending.