Driver and passenger both banned for drink driving

A woman has been disqualified from driving for 12 months after she was found guilty of drink driving in North Swindon. 

Nayane Dacosta, 28, of Brean Road, Redhouse, was found guilty at Swindon Magistrates Court yesterday - 28 September.

A police spokesperson said Dacosta was arrested in the early hours of December 30, 2019, after officers stopped a white Mini in Elstree Way. 

The male driver – Jean Manata, 28, of St James’ Road, Sutton - was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after he failed a roadside breath test. He was taken to custody and Dacosta, who admitted to officers that she too had been drinking and was over the drink drive limit, was told by officers not to drive the vehicle home. 

Despite this warning, officers found the car a short time later outside her home address. Dacosta was asked to complete a breath test which she failed and was then arrested. 

Manata was sentenced in February and was disqualified from driving for 16 months.

Yesterday, Dacosta was sentenced. As well as the disqualification, she was ordered to pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £775, a victim surcharge of £69 and a £690 fine.

PC Sean Williams said: “Despite us warning Dacosta not to drive the vehicle home whilst intoxicated, she made the decision to get behind the wheel of the car and drive whilst drunk. 

"This is completely unacceptable behaviour – driving having consumed alcohol puts yourself and other road users at serious risk. 

“Here in North Swindon we are regularly receiving emails in relation to the standard of driving on Thamesdown Drive and the surrounding area, and we are committed to tackling this to ensure the safety of our residents and those passing through the area – we regularly conduct patrols in the area and both of these arrests were conducted as a result of these patrols.

“If you suspect somebody of drink driving, please do contact us by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency, and provide as much detail as possible including a description of the vehicle and direction of travel if possible.”