Powys man punched dog and offered elderly motorist drugs

Police discovered that James Rowe, 35, had got into the back of a 78-year-old man’s car after he had stopped to assist Rowe when he’d crashed his own car on the B4393 on December 27 last year.

Welshpool Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Rowe had crashed his Vauxhall Vivaro while over the drink drive limit and had fled the scene via the good Samaritan – who he made drive him around Powys as he wanted to buy vodka.

Rowe, of Ffordd Spoonley, Llansantffraid, denied four of five offences he was charged with, but was found guilty on all counts at trial on May 13.

Rowe denied causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal - a police dog called Max -as well as drink driving, resisting arrest and causing a vehicle to be left in a dangerous position.

He admitted one charge, of causing criminal damage to Mr Treweek’s silver VW Golf, at Vyrnwyside Garage in Llansantffraid.

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Prosecutor Helen Tench said the offences came to light on the evening of December 27 when a member of the public called police, informing them that a vehicle was blocking a section of road on the B4393.

“From the information, officers located the driver and attended the defendant’s home address, along with police dog Max,” said Mrs Tench.

“The door had been partially smashed. The defendant was at the top of the stairs and he became verbally abusive. Officers noticed his speech was slurred and he appeared under the influence.

“He came down to where PC Lloyd and PC Donovan were, he leaned his face towards the dog and called him a ****, then hit the dog in the face. The dog appeared dazed and ran inside.

“Officers arrested him, Max was checked for injuries. He (Rowe) was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (due to the road traffic collision) but he was turned away due to being verbally abusive.”

Mrs Tench said Rowe was then taken to a police station and kept in a cell overnight.

“While in custody police received a call from a member of the public who said a friend of hers had come across the collision and spoke to the defendant,” added Mrs Tench.

“Her friend rang her, telling her the defendant had got into the back of his vehicle and asked to be taken back to Llansantffraid.

“He took him to a shop where he bought a bottle of vodka. He said the police couldn’t breathalyse him if he drank vodka.

“He then asked to be taken to Meifod. He had just one shoe on. The elderly man became intimidated while driving him around. The defendant became aggressive and offered him drugs.

“The friend advised him to drive back to the garage in Llansantffraid, where the defendant got out. He kicked the man’s vehicle, punched the glass and kicked it again.”

In a victim impact statement provided by Mr Treweek, he said: “I only tried to help the lad; I’m 78 and nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”

A reading provided by Lowe showed he had 46 micrograms of alcohol in his breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Magistrates heard from probation officer Harriet Beer-Doblon, who read from a pre-sentence report that had been prepared.

“Mr Rowe struggled to recollect what happened,” she said.

“He wasn’t feeling great at the time. It was the first Christmas he had not seen his son; mentally he was somewhere else.

“He says he wasn’t drinking when he crashed, he had swerved to avoid a fox. He drank a lot of vodka at home and says he doesn’t remember hitting the dog or abusing the officers.

“He can’t believe it happened, he is not violent person; he was under a lot of stress at the time.”

Ms Beer-Doblon said Rowe ran his own brickwork business but this deteriorated in January and he has since given it up.

“Next week begins a new job in maintenance,” she said. “His mental health is much better now as he’s drinking less.”

Rowe, who appeared unrepresented, said nothing in his own defence.

Magistrates handed him an 18-month community order, with a requirement to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work and complete 20 rehabilitation activity days.

He must pay £1,380 compensation to Mr Treweek and will be disqualified from driving for 14 months; he can reduce this if he completes a drink drive rehabilitation course.