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Shamed publican: don't risk drunken driving

By: KentOnline reporter multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 00:00, 20 December 2002

Updated: 08:40, 21 December 2002

STRICTLY ORANGE JUICE: Laurence Walker in his pub at Aylesford near Maidstone

THE landlord of a pub who has been convicted of drink-driving is warning other motorists: "Don't be tempted - it's not worth it."

Laurence Walker, 53, has been named and shamed as part of an anti drink-drive campaign run by Kent Messenger newspaper in association with Maidstone and Malling Police.

After an unblemished 37 years in the pub trade, he now has a record, a three-year driving ban and the humiliation of being branded a drink-driver.

Mr Walker, who has run the Lower Bell pub in Old Chatham Road, Aylesford, near Maidstone, for the past eight years, also faces losing his licence to sell alcohol if police decide to lodge objections the next time it comes up for renewal.

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His wife now has to run the pub on her own while he works shifts at a Maidstone charity shop and attends a drink-drive re-habilitation course.

Mr Walker said: "I'm always telling my regulars not to drive. If I think someone has had too much to drink, I would organise taxis or take them home myself. When I get my (driving) licence back I will not have even one drink. It is not worth it. The only safe level is nil."

He stressed: "Don't be tempted to drive because you've only had a couple of drinks because a couple can be too much."

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