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Original poster

Drink driving sentence appeal

56 replies

Raccoonsatemyscones · 18/10/2017 20:44

Name changed for obvious reasons. Anyone offer any advice on likelihood of successful appeal? I found out my husband was arrested for drink driving. Very upset as I do not condone it all. I know it doesn't excuse it but he was having a very hard time and was close to a breakdown. His blood reading was very high (about 350) but the lawyer said it shouldn't be used as evidence as it was sent to the lab 21 days after the incident and wasn't reliable. Something about the fact it can 'ferment' and show an inaccurate higher reading. Well he was in court today and was given a 4 month prison sentence. I'm 7 months into a high risk pregnancy (first child died and 2nd had to be born 1 month early) he is also the only earner in the household and I don't know what on earth I'm going to do. Lawyers said to appeal but given the high cost I wanted to know how likely it is to be successful seeing as lawyer was confident he wouldn't be convicted.

Please don't give me any "he got what he deserved etc" Yes I am upset that he did it but I'm stressed and alone and need advice. Thank you.

OP posts:

treeofhearts · 20/10/2017 17:21

I know ultimately it's my husbands fault but he'll likely lose his job and miss the birth of his child.

I'm not being horrible OP but he put you in this position. He is devastated by his loss but in getting behind that wheel he could have killed someone else's child. He doesn't deserve to be let off even in light of the circumstances.

keeponworking · 20/10/2017 17:33

As absolutely awful as this is, perhaps it's, weirdly, the shock that's needed or the moment where he will now get the help he needs. Totally wrong that it should need to get to this point for someone to actually get the mental health help that they need as it does sound like he didn't really get the help he needed at the time (a result of the inadequate MH provision in this country undoubtedly). As awful as it is, hopefully something positive will come out of it.

And grab as much help as you can from midwives, HVs, CAB, prison support service, offender services, family.

MidniteScribbler · 21/10/2017 01:39

what I mean is I can't believe they leave a woman with no financial support who is heavily pregnant and not even signpost me to any support.

"They" didn't. He did. And you need to stop blaming 'the system' and start blaming the man who made the choice to get behind the wheel of a car when drunk.

MaverickSnoopy · 21/10/2017 08:50

I agree with a lot of the comments from the posters saying to stop blaming the system and to start blaming him. But. I think this would be a lot easier for the OP if the circumstances were different. Her husband is going through a tragic bereavement, has MH issues and has tried to kill himself several times. They have sought support and been told he is fine when they know he is not. This is a man on the brink and who is not thinking straight or behaving rationally. He does need to be accountable for his actions but I also feel that he has been let down having asked for help and this is where it's led him. My MIL died in tragic circumstances after she was let down by MH teams after we asked for help so perhaps I'm biased but I just feel that this man's story is not the simple drink driver case. He needs help.

grobagsforever · 21/10/2017 15:46

I started off this thread wanting to tell the OP to pull herself together, her DH is coming home. Mine isn't - as many know I was widowed when pregnant.

But then I read the backstory. And thought hard. I've been incredibly stressed lately, panic attacks, insomnia etc (rough patch three years on from losing DH). And so on Tuesday I fell asleep at the wheel, woke up drifting into the fast lane of a motorway. Ten more seconds and I'd have hit something. Life can unravel and lead us into circumstances we never thought possible.

@Raccoonsatemyscones - giving birth alone is actually the easy bit, I promise. It's raising them alone that sucks and DH will we back for that. You need help and support to pull your lives back on track. What's DH profession? Can he freelance if finding a new role will be hard with a record?

Breath. You can pull this back together as a family.

Giverortakeafew · 22/10/2017 21:02

Some more great resources:
prisonchatuk.com/forum/

www.emailaprisoner.com

You MUST tell your family. They might be angry at him, but if they love you they will be concerned about yiu aand know that showing their anger is not good for you. You will be surprised at how much better you will feel. Is there someone who could tell your mum for you? A friend or sibling who could explain your position and smooth things over? Could you send your mum and email? "I know you will be angry, but I need your help, and I don't know how to tell you face to face because I am afraid you will be angry and I can't deal with that on top of everything...."

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