Ex-landlord fails to get licence back (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Ex-landlord fails to get licence back

AN ex-Northleach pub landlord - who caused a friend's death by breaking his own drink-driving code - had his application to get his licence back early thrown out of court.

Gloucester Crown Court heard Andrew Keedwell, 43, was about twice over the drink drive limit when he lost control of his Mazda sports car while driving it at an alleged 80mph along the A429 Fosse Way in September, 1999.

The car crashed, killing his friend, Anthony Wilson, 26, a divorced father-of-two squeezed into its small back seat.

They were to have gone on holiday to Spain the following day and had been drinking together in Cirencester.

In 2001, Keedwell, then the Sherborne Arms' landlord, was jailed for three years.

He was also banned from driving for five years and ordered to take another driving test when the ban expires.

Keedwell applied to the court for his driving licence's early restoration. Judge John Foley said he was amazed bankrupt Keedwell bothered applying.

He said: " This might cost you a lot of money if you don't succeed. "I wouldn't want to encourage you in this application."

Keedwell was warned failure would cost him about £150 in prosecution costs.

He said: "I need my licence to get back to work basically, to support my family and to get my life back on track."

Keedwell said he needed a car because he was now a self-employed builder.

He said: "I live three miles from the nearest shops and services.

"The bus goes to our village twice a week but it's no good for work.

"The chap I was working with, who took me to work everyday, we've parted company because he's moving to New Zealand."

Judge Foley said: "It seems to this court that this sentence was wholly appropriate for such a serious breach of the motoring laws.

"There are really no grounds in law or fact, as I suspect you would have been advised had you engaged a solicitor, for the removal of this disqualification."

He said that, as Keedwell could not afford a lawyer, he would be spared paying prosecution costs.