Hampshire’s courts have handed down tough penalties to drivers who flouted the law, with alcohol and drug offenders facing immediate bans and hefty fines. In the latest cases, Jeremy Barnes, 73, of Hursley, was stopped by officers in Pelican Court on November 29 after failing a breath test that registered 76 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath—more than double the 35 microgram legal limit. Barnes, who admitted the offence, was disqualified from driving for 20 months, fined £438, and ordered to pay £85 in costs plus a £175 victim surcharge.
A separate case saw Ryan Painter, 24, of Bishop’s Waltham, caught driving with nearly double the legal alcohol limit in Colden Common. Painter, who was in a 21-reg grey Nissan, recorded a breath test reading of 69 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath when stopped on Main Road. District Judge Kirsty Allman banned him for 18 months, fined him £484, and imposed a £194 victim surcharge. The fine was reduced from £727 due to his guilty plea, and he must pay £50 monthly starting April 7.
📋 Alcohol Limits & Penalties
- 35 micrograms — Legal limit for breath alcohol in England
- 18 months — Minimum ban for exceeding limit by double
- £194 victim surcharge — Mandatory fee for drink-driving offences
Drug drivers were not spared either. Gary Glover, 52, of Swindon, was caught on the A34 near Winchester in a 24-reg Citroen Berlingo with a cannabis reading of 3.6mg—80% above the 2mg legal limit. Glover admitted the offence, and District Judge Allman imposed a 16-month ban, a £120 fine, and a £48 victim surcharge. Costs of £85 will be paid at £20 a month.
| Driver | Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Barnes | Drink-driving (76μg) | 20-month ban, £438 fine |
| Ryan Painter | Drink-driving (69μg) | 18-month ban, £484 fine |
| Gary Glover | Drug-driving (3.6mg cannabis) | 16-month ban, £120 fine |
Shoplifters and offenders breaching court orders also faced strict punishments. Sam Irving, 40, an alcoholic from Winchester, was jailed for 16 weeks after admitting five thefts of alcohol from Spar and Tesco Express stores between February and March. District Judge Stephen Apted ruled that only a custodial sentence was justified due to Irving’s “flagrant disregard for court orders.”
💡 Pro Tip
Avoid driving the morning after heavy drinking. Alcohol can stay in your system longer than you think—use a breathalyser or wait at least 12 hours after your last drink before getting behind the wheel.
Daniel Casey, 47, of Winchester, saw his curfew extended by four weeks after violating a 20-week electronic tagging order for 2 hours and 22 minutes between 5pm and 8am. He also admitted stealing £75 Nike trainers from Sports Direct in December, for which he was ordered to pay £70 compensation.
- 📊 Casey’s curfew violation added 4 weeks to his original 20-week order
- 🔍 Irving’s thefts targeted high-value alcohol, including vodka and whiskey
- ⚠️ Victims of theft offences often face delays in recovering compensation
In another case, Liam Davies, 33, of Landford, admitted dangerous driving on the B3354 in Twyford last October, along with driving without insurance and without a valid licence. District Judge Kirsty Allman banned him for 12 months, imposed a 200-hour community order, and required 15 days of rehabilitation activity. Davies must also pay a £114 victim surcharge and £55 in costs. His driving ban starts from January 27, and he will need to pass an extended driving test to regain his licence.
Key Points
- ✅ Double the limit: Drivers with breath alcohol readings above 35μg face automatic bans
- ⚡ Drug limits: Cannabis levels above 2mg result in immediate disqualification
- 💡 Curfew breaches: Even minor violations of electronic tagging orders can extend restrictions
A harassment case in Basingstoke saw Aaron Bishop, 36, of Sutton Scotney, handed a community order with 26 days of rehabilitation activity for breaching a restraining order. Bishop, who contacted a woman in Chippenham in breach of a 2021 court order, was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £40 in costs after admitting harassment and driving without insurance or a valid licence.
Dog owners were not spared either. Michaela Tinkler, 41, of Winchester, was fined £500, ordered to pay £650 compensation, and hit with a £200 victim surcharge after her Irish Staffordshire bull terrier cross American bulldog attacked a police officer in Portsmouth. The dog’s second incident led to fines totalling £1,435, payable at £20 a month starting March 26. A separate charge involving an attack on an assistance dog was withdrawn.
- First incident: Dog attack on December 8, 2024, in Portsmouth
- Second incident: Attack on police officer PC Hoar-Hannan on January 18, 2025
- Third incident: Attack on assistance dog, later withdrawn
The latest round of court cases underscores Hampshire’s zero-tolerance approach to road safety and public order offences. With drink and drug driving bans routinely exceeding a year, and shoplifters facing jail time for repeat offences, the message is clear: flouting the law comes with severe consequences.