Male Convicted Following Gittisham Drink Drive Incident

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Drink driving, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.

On 15th January 2026, Exeter Magistrates Court sat and heard the case of a male from the Exeter area who had crashed his car into a house in Gittisham. On 07/06/2025 the male crashed his BMW into a house, causing significant damage to the vehicle. The driver then failed to stay with his car prior to police attendance and fled the scene through the nearby fields.

The male was later located by police not too far from the collision site and provided a specimen of breath double the legal drink drive limit.

Exeter Magistrates Court found this male guilty of driving a motor vehicle whilst over the prescribed legal limit of alcohol. He was sentenced to:
- 90 days alcohol abstinence requirement.
- Requirement to attend rehabilitation activities.
- Required to complete 60 hours unpaid work within 12 months.
- Disqualified from driving for 24 months.
- Pay costs of £85 and £114.

Honiton Neighbourhood Team welcome this conviction and hope this serves as a reminder to anyone who may consider drink driving in the future. Not only could this male have seriously injured, or worse killed someone, they have now lost their privilege to drive for a significant length of time. Honiton Neighbourhood Team will always seek to convict those who intend on putting the lives of our community at risk through impaired driving.

Remember, drink driving is one of the fatal 5 reasons for deaths on our roads. The easiest way to avoid finding yourself in a similar situation is if you intend on drinking alcohol, don't drive.

If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. 

Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

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