THURROCK UKIP councillor Robert Ray will stand trial in February charged with drink driving at Orsett Hall this summer.
The 65-year-old politician appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday, 11 September) for a plea and case management hearing after previously pleading not guilty to drink driving on 22 July.
It is alleged that on 13 June after a UKIP conference at Orsett Hall, Ray, of Purfleet Road, Aveley, got behind the wheel of his car when he was over the limit. Police were called and he was stopped as he left the car park. A breathalyser test showed he was two and a half times over the limit.
Ray’s counsel Mr Sirrell will argue in his defence that Orsett Hall’s car park did not constitute a public place at the time of the offence and put forward a “special reasons argument” about the short distance driven.
Ray was released on unconditional bail to appear back before the court on 16 February for trial.
