Coal cost boater £585

A LIVEABOARD discovered that the bag of coal he went to buy at a garage proved very expensive indeed—over £585.

Instead of paying the cost of the coal he also found himself with a fine of £500 plus £85 costs.  For when he drove his car in the early hours of one morning to the garage, he had previously been drinking, and when stopped by the police he was found to be over twice the legal limit.

Erratic

Lee Hemingway, who moors at Hanbury Wharf on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal was stopped at 2.50am on Thursday 23rd December as his driving was erratic.

He told the court that he woke up to a very cold boat so decided to go to the all-night garage for coal as he had not stocked up. He has had a previous conviction, so in addition to the fine and costs he was banned from driving for four years.