Drunk Mercedes-driving mayor who knocked over bike owner after downing 4 pints of Stella was greater than twice the restrict when police caught up with him at dwelling

A drunk mayor downed four pints of Stella at a party before knocking down a cyclist on his way home.

Ryan Davies, 44, the mayor of the village of Clun, Shropshire, was drunk at the wheel when he struck rider Cain Western who was riding his bike home from work.

He was more than twice the limit when police caught up with him at his home. 

He initially denied drink driving on his seven-mile journey home, but later changed his plea after a court heard a wing mirror from his Mercedes was found at the scene of the crash.

The mayor was banned from driving for 20 months and given a court bill of more than £3,000.

Prosecutor James Sprunks said Mr Western was cycling close to Knighton, Powys, on his way home from work when he was knocked from his bike.

Mr Sprunks said: ‘It was a dark night and there was no street lighting.

‘Mr Weston was used to the stretch of road. He was wearing a high visibility vest and had lights and reflectors on his bike.

Ryan Davies, 44, was drunk at the wheel when he struck bicycle rider Cain Western

Davies is the mayor of the village of Clun, Shropshire, on the Welsh border

‘As he was riding along a car appeared, which went between dipped and full beam headlights.

‘He recalls getting hit from the back, as the wing mirror of the vehicle came off. He was sent to the floor.

‘He witnessed a Mercedes vehicle, which he said didn’t stop straight away. It slowed and continued driving, but did then come back. He could not identify the registration or the driver.

‘There was another person present, who told the driver he’d hit a cyclist. Further people arrived and one identified the driver as the defendant, who then got back in his car and left the scene.’

Llandrindod Wells magistrates heard Mr Weston suffered minor injuries and bruising and a police officer found a wing mirror at the scene of the crash.

Mr Sprunks said: ‘PC Brunning attended and seized the wing mirror, then attended the defendant’s home address, just after midnight.

‘He saw the Mercedes, which had its wing mirror missing. He asked for a sample of breath. He asked the defendant if he’d had a drink; he said he’d last drank about three hours ago.

‘He said he’d drunk nothing since the crash. He was breathalysed and arrested after failing that.

The mayor was banned from driving for 20 months and given a court bill of more than £3,000

‘He had been to a party in Knighton and drank about four or five pints of Stella.’

The court heard Davies had 183 milligrams of alcohol in his system – the legal limit is 80 milligrams.

Matthew Davies, defending, said: ‘He works as an agricultural legislator and is the mayor of Clun. He is very reliant on his licence for work and his duties as mayor. He does a lot of work in the community.

‘He now admits he would not have driven, having been drinking. He has confirmed with the barman that he had four pints of Stella.’

Davies was banned from driving for 20 months and ordered to pay £3,017 in a fine, costs, and surcharge.