Police fine anger (From Penarth Times)

Police fine anger

ANTI-drink-drive campaigners have slammed the sentence given to a Penarth policeman who crashed a police car while more than twice the legal limit.

Penarth-based Acting Sergeant Philip John Wintle, aged 32, of Llwyn Glas, Bridgend, was fined 600 and banned from driving for 12 months.

He admitted the drink-drive charge when he appeared at Neath Magistrates' Court this week. A sample gave a reading of 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

He also admitted driving while uninsured and aggravated vehicle taking, after driving a Vauxhall Astra away from Penarth Police Station following a night out in Cardiff.

Carole Wittingham, of the Campaign Against Drink Driving (CADD), said: "I think they should have thrown the book at him.

"I think the sentence is very disappointing given the seriousness of the offence.

"Courts can give up to six months in prison for this kind of offence - I think it sends out the wrong message to the public and other people within the force who might think that what he's done isn't so bad. Police officers are supposed to be pillars of our communities."

A spokesperson for the road safety charity Brake said: "It is always disappointing when someone in a position of authority is found guilty of breaking the law.

"It is appalling that a police officer should put the lives of other people at risk in this way. After all they are there to protect us.

"The sentence given to Mr Wintle is fairly standard for the offence - however, we feel that it is not enough and are campaigning hard for tougher penalties."

Wintle was fined 200 for driving while unfit through alcohol, 150 for driving while uninsured and 250 for aggravated vehicle taking.

He has been on suspension from his job with South Wales Police since the incident, which occurred in the early hours of January 7.