+++ BREAKING NEWS: DRINK DRIVING GUIDO FAWKES GETS THREE MONTH 9PM – 6AM CURFEW ORDER AND ELECTRONIC TAG +++
Blogger Guido Fawkes was sentenced to a three month curfew order this afternoon after being convicted of driving while over the legal alcohol limit and without insurance.
Appearing at Tower Bridge Magistrates Court the blogger, real name Paul Staines, was told the curfew would operate between the hours of 9pm and 6am. Staines, 41, will also have to wear an electronic tag.
The judge also handed down an 18-month supervision order and a three year driving ban. Staines will be required to retake his driving test when the driving ban has elapsed. He was also ordered to pay the prosecution’s £60 costs.
(Additional reporting by Tim Ireland)
Tags: disintermediation
Update 16/5: Our court reporter Tim Ireland adds further details.
Posted on May 15th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
A tagged libertarian. Beautiful.
ourman’s latest blog post… Top Ten Toon Best Bits (with Flickr Links)
Ministry of Truth says he got jailed. Which one of you is right?
It was a three month curfew order. I sent Unity at MoT a joke headline earlier this morning and wires got crossed.
[...] Chicken Yoghurt and the [...]
I hope the CPS appeal against this unduly lenient sentence.
I must admit, it’s a bit of a piss-take.
All we get all year is how bad drink driving is, and then how many uninsured drivers there are costing us all a fortune. What the fuck is the point of obeying the law if the punishment is such a waste of time?
I bet Staines can’t believe his luck.
Aaron Heath’s latest blog post… +++ BREAKING NEWS: DRINK DRIVING GUIDO FAWKES GETS THREE MONTH 9PM – 6AM CURFEW ORDER AND ELECTRONIC TAG +++
I’m really not sure myself, Aaron. I want to see that bastard brought down about as much as anyone possibly can but I had very mixed feelings about him going to prison.
I think the facts of the case probably mitigate in his favour. If he’d been caught doing it twelve hours later or earlier I’d have said yep, they should probably lock the bastard up.
But I’m also very dubious of the merits of prison full stop below murder, rape and other violent offences. He certainly won’t be a danger to other road users again for quite a while and I imagine walking around for a bit with a tag like all the other petty scumbags focusses the mind somewhat.
We’ll see if he modifies his outlook. I doubt it – it’s not his first offence for starters and he starts to look a bit habitual if not ideological – but what you gonna do? The irony should certainly be pointed out that if it wasn’t for a draconian statist prison policy that’s got the jails full to bursting, our favourite libertarian would almost certainly be in jail right now. He owes his much-hated State big time this afternoon.
It does pose something of a dilemma, doesn’t it. My personal opinion is that getting behind the wheel of a car whilst drunk is no different to walking around town with a loaded gun whilst drunk; you’ve no real intention of injuring anyone, but the state you’re in makes a deadly accident more likely.
The curfew will certainly hit Staines, though I’m surprised there wasn’t a) a heavy fine (or did I miss that) and b) compulsory attendance of some alcoholism rehab program (or is that part of the supervision order).
Given his cavalier attitude towards driving without insurance, I would reckon it is a dead cert that he’ll be behind the wheel of a car in significantly less than 3 years.
Hangings too good for the bastard, thats what I say
I don’t believe that a prison sentence would do anybody any favours.
I think what he got was about par for the course, although I am suprised that there wasn’t a hefty fine. (There wasn’t, was there?)
I think if he’d had an accident he would’ve been completely fucked, but he didn’t. Fortunately
I haven’t heard mention of a fine but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t one. I’m sure there’s more details to come.
The 18 month order is what you get if you’re not getting fined.
Basically, behave for the next 18 months or you’ll be sorry. Well, a bit sorry anyway.
The curfew order is only a three month one, according to the court staff. But he can apply to vary it at any time – ie, weddings, speeches, etc.
The court will decide whether he can come out to play or not. But I think he’d be pushing his luck with the previous he has. Needless to say, there will be no evenings at the Garrick for Guido until well into August.
Three year disqualified can be shortened to two years if he takes and passes the “extended” test at that time.
His insurance is going to be a real bugger next time around, but I’m sure he can afford it.
By the way Mr Yoghurt and Mr Ireland, I wish to compliment you on your court reporting – very professional.
I would like to add though, you are – by law – entitled to also include Mr Staines’ age, address (though not the street number), profession, the name of his solicitor, the prosecution solicitor, the name of the district judge adn what was said in court during the sentencing (including his solicitor’s mitigation, the prosecution case in its detail and the district judge’s comments, if any.)
Although it’s such a common crime, these days they just pass the sentence and move on to the next job…
Cheers, Carl. Didn’t think I’d be drawing on my NiB skills again any time soon. Tim will be following up with more details later, I think.
Anyway, I see Guido’s got his bravado back. He wasn’t so bloody cocky a few hours ago.
Thank you, Carl.
Tim Ireland’s latest blog post… Paul Staines: The Plonk
Perhaps he didn’t get a fine … because he’s a personal bankrupt as well as personally bankrupt. This will also stop him drinking at home where there are no “co-conspirators” to tell him how great he is and buy him Bollie.
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Presumably the order doesn’t ban people from coming round his house with Bolly and telling him how wonderful he is, though…?
john b’s latest blog post… Good news, everybody
Kevin Maguire’s got a bit more.
From the judge in Kevin’s piece: “You can’t help yourself can you? You drink four bottles of wine a week for a start.”
err, wot? that’s inside the recommended weekly limit! Four bottles of wine a *day* and he’d have a problem…
john b’s latest blog post… Good news, everybody
Aside: here’s another chap with the same sentence as Guido. How exceptionally fair and proportionate our justice system is…
john b’s latest blog post… Good news, everybody
“You lack the insight to realise when you are a danger to other people. Do you realise what a danger you are to the public?”
A question that all libertarians should be called upon to answer…
asquith’s latest blog post…
Am I alone in hoping he’d be press-ganged? You know, forced to join the navy, so he’d be ‘Seaman …’
NOTE – “Four bottles a week” seemed to me to be based on Staine’s own submitted estimate. Perhaps Paul would care to clarify that point while he’s feeling cocky.
(Will comment/post more tomorrow.)
Tim Ireland’s latest blog post… Obsessive? No.
Personally I think Paul needs a public demonstration of our support and understanding.
I’ve joined Clive. A month dry and lots of sleepy-bo-bos.
Tim Ireland’s latest blog post… Obsessive? No.
I’ve already taken the pledge for other reasons and love an early night. Can I still join? Or should I reverse it – go out and get drunk and see if I can’t try and deprive my kids of a father for a bit?
I’m suddenly curious to see just what it takes to get sent to prison in this country. I’m also handicapped by the fact that I’m insured to drive the wife’s car (it’s annoying but necessary expense if you ask me) and I don’t need to buy people drinks to get them to like me.
Join now. Time enough to punish children later.
[said in a dignified and sober fashion]:
You and me and Clive against the world, my brother. Solidarity and all that.
Tim Ireland’s latest blog post… Obsessive? No.
Bollocks to that. I’m gonna drink a toast to at least three years of that twat being off the road.
Sim-O’s latest blog post… Have you noticed…
oops, i meant at least two years.
Sim-O’s latest blog post… Have you noticed…
Four bottles of wine a week isn’t exactly clcohlism if it’s all you drink. I reckon I do a litle more than half that.
Ah – does this gentleman actually work in advertising?
ejh’s latest blog post… Oh to be in England II
That’s a moot point, Justin. See here.
Sean’s latest blog post… "You lack the insight to realise when you are a danger to other people. Do you realise what a danger…"
[...] Appearing at Tower Bridge Magistrates Court the blogger, real name Paul Staines, was told the curfe… [...]
I think my favourite part of the whole story is that he was speaking at the Adam Smith Institute.
Perhaps an invisible hand topped up his glass when he wasn’t looking?
ejh’s latest blog post… Oh to be in England II
Boo! he’s (that is Guido the Fool) got moderation turned for comments.
Oh well let’s see if his hunour is up to allowing my comment:
[EDIT BY JUSTIN: Sorry, the last time that episode in Guido's past was mentioned, he went running for his lawyer.]
Yes I know – the first resort of the insecure.
[...] Fawkes got in on the act, and we know that he hates public transport so much he’d rather drive home drunk with no insurance. Amazing, really, that so many people with ties to right-wing disinformation merchants and with [...]