Bannan arrested following M1 car crash (now suspended by AVFC)

[PeterWithe]

The pub industry is already reeling from the smoking ban, a zero limit would kill off at least rural pubs and put thousands on the dole.

[E I Adio]

Every now and then the cry goes up for a zero limit, but there is the obvious problem of enforcing such a law. What for instance, if you'd just swilled some mouthwash around your mouth - some are quite high in alcohol. (Sometimes it's absolutely necessary) 

I do remember looking into this a few years ago and the research revealed that the vast majority of accidents that are drink related happen to total numbskulls who are way over the limit. The conclusion was that lowering the limit to zero would have little or no impact on road traffic accident statistics, but would criminalise otherwise responsible drivers unnecessarily.

Mind you, from personal experience I can vouch that three halves of Carling Black Gnats Piss doesn't even register on a breathaliser.

[TopDeck113]

Bailed to appear at Nottingham magistrates on 25th November.

Perfect timing: just at the time of year when local magistrates and Chief Constables like to have a high profile conviction prior to the Christmas Party season.  If found guilty, I'd expect on the basis of "let's take this opportunity to send out a warning", he'll have the book thrown at him.

[Chris Smith]

Risso, that's how long it takes a healthy liver to process it. So 8 pints of strong beer = 24 hours.

 However, that doesn't clear it out completely and it can show up as small amounts in blood tests for up to 3 days.

A doctor who performs autopsies told me this.

[VillaAlways]

Banned for 18 months.Got off very lightly imo considering he can't drive

[taylorsworkrate]

Bannan banned from driving for 18 months.  If that's the sum total of his punishment, he can consider himself an extremely lucky boy.

Now he needs to grow up and learn from it.

[philthebar]

Got away very, very lightly (although I do not believe we are in full possension of the facts)

Message to Barry - consider yourself lucky, learn from it, put it behind you and get with doing what you are good at.

UTV

[Risso]

I think he can consider himself quite lucky.  Mind you, he can probably afford that Mr Loophole lawyer!

I remember queuing up for some League Cup 1994 tickets and seeing Ray Houghton pull up in a taxi for much the same reason.

[VillaAlways]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2066109/Barry-Bannan-gets-18-month-ban-drink-driving.html

[Rick_avfc]

He is a lucky boy.  This is a wake up call for him to get his head down, work hard and learn from his mistake.  As someone mentioned just above, we do not have full facts so so cant really comment on the length of his ban or fine.

[Hopadop]

Not particularly lucky, he was never getting anything other than a disqualification and fine, just a question of how long / much. Page 124:

http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk/docs/Magistrates_Guidelines_including_update_1__2__3_4_web.pdf

Bear in mind the Guidelines assume conviction after trial, so he'd be entitled to credit for his guilty plea.

The wee rascal.

[Rick_avfc]

it says on the bham mail website that he was almost twice the legal limit.  Anybody know what the legal limit is?  1 bottle of 5% beer? or 1 pint?

[PeterWithesShin]

Shame our laws are so soft. The twat deserved a harsher punishment than that.

[Legion]

From Auntie:

Aston Villa footballer Barry Bannan has been given an 18-month driving ban after admitting drinking and driving and other offences following a crash.

The midfielder crashed near Watnall, Nottinghamshire, on the southbound carriageway of the M1 on 23 October.

Bannan, 21, of Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, was fined £4,500.

He was also charged with failing to stop after an accident, driving without due care and attention and driving on a provisional licence.

Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard the Scotland midfielder crashed his Range Rover Sport at about 05:30 BST.

He was found to have almost twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

Bannan had been on a night out with friends in Leeds following Villa's 2-1 home defeat against local rivals West Bromwich Albion.

A friend collected Bannan and they left for Leeds at 18:30 BST.

Bannan drank two cans of beer on the journey then drank more at a nightclub that night, magistrates heard.

The midfielder, who has been capped nine times by Scotland, got a taxi to his hotel at 03:00 BST and waited for his friends to return.

When they failed to return, Bannan decided to get changed and drive back to Birmingham as he feared he would miss a meeting with a youth football team coach he had known for 11 years.

Bannan said he took the decision to drive as he felt "alert, in control and clear headed", the court heard.

[TheSandman]

Stupid boy. He needs to learn from this and get himself straight. He needs to think himself lucky that he did not kill himself or someone else.