Man, 67, with long history of drinking and driving sentenced once again

A St. John's man with a history of problems with alcohol has been sentenced to about 2.5 years in prison for his 12th and 13th impaired driving related offenses.

Judge Lois Skanes gave the sentence to Lawrence Squires, 67, in Provincial Court in St. John's Tuesday morning.

Squires's troubles with alcohol and driving go back a long way. He was first convicted in 1979 when he refused to provide a blood sample. Then he racked up another 10 impaired related offenses until 2001.

In a presentence report, Squires saidhe was sober for more than a decade until February 2015 when he became depressed and started drinking again in order to function.

The following month, Squires got behind the wheel after drinking, and backed into another vehicle in the parking lot of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)on Topsail Road.

An off duty police officer saw what happened, and when Squires didn't stop, the officer followed him andcalled for assistance.Squires was picked up in a nearby Sobeysparking lot.

Not only was he over the legal limit, but he didn't have a valid driver's licence orinsurance and the vehicle wasn't registered.

Because of that incident, Squires was put on conditions, including to report to Royal Newfoundland Constabulary headquarters on Parade Street in St. John's. On October 3, 2015, when Squires checkedin, it was noted he might be drinking, and an officer followed him.

Squires got into a vehicle, drove away, and was stopped around the corner on Merrymeeting Road. He again blew over the legal limit, and he was charged with breaching conditions not to consume alcohol or drive.

On June 14, 2016, Squires pleaded guilty and was convicted for two charges of driving over the legal limit, breaching the court order not to drink and with driving with no insurance.

Crown Prosecutor Dana Sullivan recommended that Squires get between three and four years in prison.

Squires's lawyer, John McGrath, felt that 18 months would be sufficient.

In sentencing Squires to the 2.5 years, Judge Lois Skanes wrote: "Given the gap of approximately 14 years from the previous drinking and driving offence, it is not in this instance necessary to step up the punishment significantly in order to achieve the principles of sentencing."

She continues: "The primary focus in drinking and driving offences must be on denunciation along with general and specific deterrence."

Skanes also fined Squires $3,000 for driving with no insurance, and when he gets out of prison, he is prohibited from driving for 10 years.

As sheriff officers were about to take Squires from the courtroom, Skanes said to him, "Even at this stage in life where you are, that there is still a chance for you to get everything together, and hopefully have a better life once you've served your time with regard to this. Good luck."