Man who wedged car outside Bath hotel gets driving ban

A fire crew helped one person out of the car, while another got out by himself

A man who wedged a car against the windows of a historic hotel when he crashed it after drinking has been banned from driving for 15 months.

Benjamin Maddocks, of Surrey, pleaded guilty to drink-driving after admitting he was responsible for the crash at the Francis Hotel in Queen Square, Bath.

No one was hurt, but the car was wedged for three days until it was removed.

At Bath Magistrates' Court Maddocks, of Broad Lane, Parkgate, was ordered to pay £253 in court fees.

He has also been offered a drink-drive rehabilitation course.

Maddocks' failed drink-driving test indicated he had 56 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the court was told. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

The wedged car was later lifted away from the hotel by a crane.

During Maddocks' appearance, presiding magistrate Mark Pilgrim told him: "While it's obviously not good you should be here because of drink-driving, this is not the end of the story.

"You can recover from this and hopefully your studies can recommence.

"This shouldn't be the thing that defines you. There is a future."