Councillor hits out at courts in pub crash case

Buy photos » Councillors Lynette Kelly and Ed Ruance survery damage at the Mount Pleasant. 41.012.030.cov.nc2

A COUNCILLOR has criticised a decision by the courts after a drink driver was forced to pay just £300 compensation to a pub he hit despite causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Damien Borratynski, from Exhall, was nearly three times over the legal drink-drive limit when he lost control of his car and hit the Mount Pleasant Pub in Walsgrave at the end of September.

Borratynski admitted to driving with excess alcohol, driving without due care and attention and driving without insurance.

Despite being banned from driving for four years, ordered to 200 hours of unpaid work and being made subject to a three-month curfew at Coventry Magistrates Court last week, the 25-year-old was ordered to pay just £300 in compensation to the pub.

And ward councillor Ed Ruanne (Labour) labelled the decision as “weak” ahead of Christmas when drink-driving can become a big issue in the city.

“This weak decision from the court only weeks before Christmas sends out entirely the wrong message,” Mr Ruanne told the Observer.

"The Police spend millions of pounds each year on drink drive campaigns particularly in the run up to Christmas and New Year.

“To have to only pay £300 compensation to the pub when he caused£10,000 worth of damage is an insult to those who work hard to make a living.

“He should of been forced to payback the full cost of the damage he caused to the pub and the Council, as it will be Council taxpayers money which will be spent repairing pedestrian barriers and installing new ones.”

There have been calls to make drastic changes to the roundabout which have been supported by Mr Ruanne.

He confirmed the Council are looking at a re-design to improve traffic in the area and confirmed high impact barriers have now been put in place.

A spokesperson for the Hungry Horse chain, which owns the Mount Pleasant, confirmed the damage has been fully repaired and replaced with a brand new family area.

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