Westbury man's warning after friend spiked his drink on a night out (From This Is Wiltshire)

Westbury man's warning after friend spiked his drink on a night out

1:30pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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A web designer from Westbury says he has forgiven a friend who spiked his drink while on a night out, almost landing him with a driving ban.

Former Wiltshire College Trowbridge student Ben Wilkins, 20, of Eden Vale Road, was given an absolute discharge after admitting drink-driving, as magistrates heard his friend had admitted spiking his drink with vodka while on a night out in Trowbridge.

Mr Wilkins, who still has the drink-drive conviction on his record, said he has learned a hard lesson from the experience and warned people to watch their drinks.

Mr Wilkins was pulled over by police in his Vauxhall Astra van in The Ham, Westbury, on April 5 and gave a reading of 62mg of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, almost double the limit of 35mg, despite only drinking two pints of lager.

The next morning his friend Liam Caldicott confessed that he had spiked Mr Wilkins’ drink.

As a result Mr Wilkins was given an absolute discharge at Chippenham Magistrates’ Court on June 18.

Mr Wilkins said: “My mum was in hospital at the time and I was feeling a bit down so my mate suggested we go out in Trowbridge and I was going to stay at his.

“We met at the Chicago Rock Cafe at about 11pm and I had two pints. Then at 2am my mate wanted to go to The Courthouse. He went inside and I was outside checking my wallet and when I realised I didn’t have any money left I called him, but he didn’t answer his phone, so I decided to drive home.

“My friend actually knew someone who died in a drink-driving accident so he certainly wouldn’t have done it had he known I was going to drive home.

“To be honest I’m not really a drinker. The last time I drank before that evening was on my birthday, which was six months before. I would say to people to make sure you know what you’re drinking before you drink it and if you’re feeling the slightest bit drunk don’t drive.”

The 20-year-old, who runs his own website design company juicemediasolutions, has warned people that if they are found guilty they automatically get a 12-month driving ban.

He said: “I have certainly learnt from my experience and won’t be taking any more risks.

“It would have been terrible if I had lost my licence because my mum suffers from severe depression and she relies on me for lifts.

“At the time the court case was on I had lots of interviews but couldn’t drive. I had one in Maidenhead that my dad had to drive me to.”

Inspector Ian Stevenson, of the Wiltshire Road Policing Unit, said: “You are looking at a minimum 12-month ban, a criminal record and a potential £5,000 fine, which can impact on your life whether it affects you getting to work or puts strain on a relationship.

“I would advise people not to leave their drink unattended to minimise the risk of having it spiked.”

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