Howard Holland was fined £400 and taken off the roads for six months after his Jeep estate smashed into gates at the former Guernsey Brewery building on the South Esplanade in September. Mr Holland, who claimed to have taken sleeping tablets, said he had been called to an emergency at one of his restaurants and had fallen asleep at the wheel. (0632774)

RESTAURATEUR Howard Holland fell asleep at the wheel before crashing into railings outside the former Guernsey Brewery.

The accident happened at the South Esplanade, St Peter Port, in September.

In the Magistrate’s Court, Mr Holland admitted driving without due care and attention.

He was fined £400 and disqualified from driving for six months.

A charge of driving while unfit through drink or drugs was dismissed when the prosecution offered no evidence.

The court heard that Mr Holland, of Fradeaux House, Les Hubits, St Martin’s, had gone to one of his restaurants to sort out an emergency and was on his way home when he fell asleep.

His Jeep estate veered across the South Esplanade into the railings. He suffered a fractured sternum.

Mr Holland told two witnesses and police officers that he had taken a couple of sleeping tablets.

But Advocate Peter Ferbrache told the court that his client was now not sure that he had done so.

He added that nothing was found in his client’s blood sample, which is why the allegation of driving while unfit through drink or drugs had been dropped.

Advocate Ferbrache said that his client thought he was fine to drive, but that obviously he was not.

Assistant-Magistrate Philip Robey said that the dangers of falling asleep at the wheel were all too obvious.

He said that a person who drives a vehicle after taking sleeping pills should appreciate that their driving might be affected.