Drunk Skipper Found Asleep After £55,000 Tresco Boat Crash

Picture waking up on your boat the morning after a night out, only to find police officers standing over you and a repair bill that runs well past £55,000.

That is roughly how things ended for a man from the Isles of Scilly who piloted a 24ft vessel while drunk and crashed into a moored boat at Tresco.

Joshua Street, 29, of Bryher, was found by police the following morning asleep on his boat and arrested. He has now been ordered to pay thousands of pounds after admitting the offence in court.

What happened at New Grimsby Harbour

On the evening of 12th September 2024 at New Grimsby Harbour, Tresco, a moored vessel belonging to Tresco Island was struck by the 24ft vessel Joshua was piloting. The collision caused significant damage that totalled over £55,000 to repair.

Evidence showed Joshua to be intoxicated at the time, between two to four times the road drink driving limit. He was found by police the following morning asleep on his boat and arrested.

The sentence

Joshua appeared at Truro Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Monday 1st June, having pleaded guilty to having committed an act which was likely to have caused the loss or destruction of, or serious damage to, a ship or structure. He was prosecuted for a boating offence under the Merchant Shipping Act.

He was fined £1,760 and ordered to pay £16,271 in compensation and costs following the investigation by Devon & Cornwall Police.

What the police said

Investigating officer PC Robin Strickland of St Mary’s Police Station said: “The Isles of Scilly is a unique community where boating is an essential part of everyday life.

“We encourage those using vessels to have an understanding of basic maritime requirements such as International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and to operate in a responsible and safe way.

“Where it is deemed that behaviour on the water is irresponsible or reckless then the Police and Maritime Coastguard Agency will always seek to deal with matters positively and this prosecution is a demonstration of that commitment.

“I’d also like to thank all those who supported the investigation.”