Plumber banned from roads after hitting cow in New Forest

Phelim O'Hara was travelling home in the dark when the collision happened on the B3078 Roger Penny Way - one of the worst routes in the forest for animal accidents.

Southampton magistrates heard he stopped "when it was safe to do so" and a fellow motorist called the police.

The 27-year-old plumber was found to have 56 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Each year the New Forest sees a large number of accidents involving free-roaming animals owned by people known as commoners (Image: Newsquest)

O'Hara had been with a friend in Fordingbridge and was returning to his home at Wetherby Court in Totton when the accident happened at around 8.45pm on September 16.

Victoria Hill, prosecuting, said the defendant told police that he had felt "OK" to drive.

Read more: Six drivers who have been sentenced in court for speeding

O'Hara, who was driving a Renault van when the collision occurred between Bramshaw Telegraph and Fordingbridge, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

David Adams, mitigating, said the defendant had not eaten anything before setting off, which might have affected his blood-alcohol reading.

O'Hara admitted drink-driving when he appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court. He was banned from driving for 15 months (Image: Newsquest)

O'Hara was rounding a bend when he suddenly encountered a dark-coloured cow crossing the road, resulting in a collision that was almost instantaneous, the court heard.

Mr Adams said: "He was shocked, deeply upset, and vomited in his van.

"He found a safe place to pull over before anyone else got to the scene. He was going to phone the police but another motorist dealt with that."

Mr Adams said the crash caused substantial damage to the van's bonnet, but added: "The cow ran off into the night - we don't know what became of it."

As well as being banned from driving, O'Hara was fined £600 with £85 costs and a £240 victim services surcharge - a total financial penalty of £925. He was given 28 days to pay.

Despite being one of the main commuter routes across the Forest, Roger Penny Way is unfenced and unlit.

It has seen countless accidents involving free-roaming animals owned by people known as commoners - villagers with the right to let their livestock graze the landscape.

In December 2020, four ponies belonging to the same person were killed in a single accident near Brook.

Police took no action against the driver, who was complying with the 40mph speed limit.

But the horrific crash resulted in more than 50,000 people signing an online petition calling for average speed cameras to be installed on the route.

In 2023 Hampshire County Council said Roger Penny Way failed to meet the criteria for the cameras.