DRINK drivers caught putting lives at risk over Christmas and New Year have started to appear in court to face the consequences.

A total of 65 people across Dorset were charged with drink or drug driving-related offences committed between December 1 and January 1.

The Daily Echo has joined forces with Dorset Police to name and shame all those convicted.

Today, in the first of a series of articles, we feature offenders between the ages of 18 and 52 caught as police stepped up patrols on the county’s roads.

Ben Moores, 19, of Mallard Road, Bournemouth, told the town’s magistrates being caught for drink driving “cost me a lot more than money”, revealing he had lost his job as a roofer and fallen out with his family as a result.

The court heard Moores was found to have consumed more than twice the legal limit after falling off his motorbike at the roundabout at the junction of Wellington Road and Holdenhurst Roads in Bournemouth in the early hours of December 5.

He admitted the offence and was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £150 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

David Beardall, 18, of West Street, Wimborne, apologised to the court when he pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit. He was banned for 18 months, fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

James Punter, 37, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk was banned for 17 months and fined £600 after being caught driving a Mercedes on the A35 at Lytchett Minster on December 10.

Punter, who works in Dorset, told the court: “I made a massive mistake. I never drink and drive – I apologise.” He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Neil Williamson, 52, of Cavendish Road, Bournemouth, admitted driving a Ford Transit on Commercial Road, Poole while over the limit but said he had not been drinking since 8pm the previous day.

He was banned from driving for three years, fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

n A number of people have also appeared before magistrates in Weymouth. Stuart Knight, 41, of Officer’s Field, Portland, Nathan Smith, 26, of Doulton Close, Weymouth, Samuel Bunney, 25, of Lindisfarne, Powerstock, and Jake Zak Mackay, 22, of Sackmore Lane, Marnhull, were all banned from driving.