Falmouth skipper found guilty

A Falmouth man has been found guilty of being drunk whilst in charge of a vessel.

David Pill, aged 40 and of Tresillian Road, was tried at Truro Crown Court after protesting his innocence to being intoxicated whilst in charge of a vessel. He was found to be four times over the legal drink-drive limit when he was skippering the Lady Elizabeth from the Prince of Wales Pier last year.

Pill, who has held a master's licence for about 20 years, admitted he had consumed most of a 75cl bottle of vodka in a 25-minute period after returning the vessel to its mooring and rowing back to Prince of Wales pier, but claimed he had done so only after the engines had been stopped and he was no longer the master.

Judge Erik Salomonsen told Pill: "You had a great responsibility on your shoulders."

Pill said he had bought the vodka at lunchtime that day as a gift for his wife, and had drank most of it after securing the vessel. He had not drunk during the day when passengers were on board.

Pill, who worked for K and S Cruises, had skippered three trips during that day and may now face jail time. The jury of eight women and four men returned a guilty verdict after 40 minutes.