A 19-year-old motorist has been given a community sentence and disqualified from driving for two years after his vehicle crossed into the opposite lane on the A373 and collided with an oncoming police car.
Crash on rural stretch near Honiton
Cody Osborne, of Powells Way, Dunkeswell, appeared at Exeter Magistrates' Court on offences arising from a collision on 16 January this year. The court heard the incident occurred at about 10.20pm as officers were travelling towards Honiton and Mr Osborne was approaching a sweeping bend in the opposite direction.
Magistrates were told that the defendant moved across the white lines into the opposite carriageway and struck the police vehicle. His car was written off as a result of the crash.
Breath and blood readings
Following the collision, Mr Osborne provided a roadside breath test and an evidential blood sample. The latter returned a reading of 56mg per 100ml of blood. For context, the legal driving alcohol limit in England and Wales is 80mg per 100ml.
Previous court appearance and mitigation
The court was told Mr Osborne had previously appeared before the courts in April on a drug-driving matter. Representing himself at the hearing, he said he had been returning from a party when the crash happened.
Sentence and financial penalties
District Judge Smith convicted Mr Osborne of driving without due care and attention and driving while unfit through drink. The judge imposed a 12-month community order including 100 hours of unpaid work and disqualified him from driving for two years. He was also ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and court costs of £85.
| Outcome | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community order | 12 months with 100 hours unpaid work |
| Driving ban | 2 years |
| Financial penalties | £114 victim surcharge; £85 court costs |
- Location: A373 near Honiton
- Defendant: Cody Osborne, aged 19, of Dunkeswell
- Reading: 56mg/100ml blood (legal limit 80mg)
The case will be recorded under the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Criminal Justice Court Reporting scheme. The sentence highlights the ongoing risks posed by impaired driving, even where readings fall below the statutory limit, and the particular dangers of rural roads with bends and oncoming traffic.
Local road users are reminded that driving while unfit through drink can still attract criminal sanctions if a person’s ability to drive is impaired, regardless of whether the legal concentration threshold is reached. Any road user involved in or who witnesses dangerous driving is encouraged to report it to police to assist with prevention and enforcement.
