Drink driver stopped on seven pint shopping spree

Published on 17th May 2007 in News

A Goole man paid a hefty penalty for drink-driving this week when the town's magistrates banned him for driving for three years and ordered he complete a 12-month supervision order.

Robert Tucker (54), of Wells Grove, pleaded guilty to a charge of drink-driving when he appeared at Goole Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Mrs Jayne Wilson told the court that at 10pm on March 26, a member of the public saw Mr Tucker 'staggering' into Sainsbury's on Boothferry Road, before later being seen driving a car along Jackson Street.

The member of the public pointed this out to police officers nearby and Mr Tucker was subsequently stopped and asked to provide a breath specimen at the side of the road.

Mr Tucker was arrested and two further breath tests were taken at the police station, the lowest of which showed that he had 118mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, placing him more than three times over the legal limit.

Sank seven pints then drove to shop for wine

In his defence, Mr Tucker told the court that after drinking around seven pints, he had driven to Sainsbury's to buy a bottle of wine before driving the short distance home.

He said: "It is just a state of mind, you believe you can do it. It was a one-off thing."

Magistrates decided to ban Mr Tucker from driving for 36-months and ordered he complete a 12-month supervision order, which would require him to carry out 140 hours unpaid work. Mr Tucker was also ordered to pay £60 towards court costs.