Royal Mail Driver Four Times Over Limit Crashed While 'Looking at Sea'
A Royal Mail delivery driver could lose his job after crashing his car into parked vehicles while more than four times the legal alcohol limit, with magistrates describing it as the highest reading they had ever encountered. Johannes Steenberg, 35, struck the stationary cars on Deal seafront after leaving his home to get food, later telling police he was distracted by the sea view.
Court Hearing Reveals Extreme Alcohol Reading
Steenberg, of Allenby Avenue in Deal, admitted drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Margate. The court heard he gave a breathalyser reading of 148 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, far exceeding the legal limit of 35. The chairman of the bench stated, "This is an incredibly high reading – it's the highest I have ever seen. You are lucky no one got hurt."
Prosecutor Julie Farbrace explained that police were called to The Marina in Deal in the early hours of December 28 last year after a collision with parked cars. Steenberg approached officers, admitting he was driving and had crashed while looking at the sea. Officers detected alcohol, and he later failed an impairment test.
Defense Cites Personal Trauma and Remorse
Defense lawyer Gemma Adams revealed that Steenberg, originally from South Africa and living with his partner, had experienced significant personal trauma, including the deaths of his father and aunt around Christmas. She said, "He'd been drinking over the Christmas period, a few days before and the evening before – that's why the reading is so high. He has not drunk since his arrest; it's been a wake-up call."
A probation officer noted Steenberg showed a "high level of remorse," struggling with the potential harm he could have caused and the high alcohol reading. Although he drinks socially and not habitually, he is considering attending Alcoholics Anonymous due to concern over the incident.
Employment and Legal Consequences
Steenberg, a Royal Mail delivery driver earning £1,400 monthly, faces severe impacts from a driving ban, including potential job loss and reliance on benefits. The court heard he has not yet discussed alternative roles within Royal Mail but may explore options after the case.
Magistrates imposed an 18-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work, citing his clean record as reason to avoid prison. He was banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £199 in court costs and a victim surcharge. The case highlights the severe risks of drink-driving and its repercussions on employment and personal life.
