South Shields driver caught speeding while over the drink-drive limit in Sunderland

Grant Foster, 38, of East Avenue, South Shields, was spotted by police in Southwick Road, Sunderland, at 11.30pm on Monday, February 3.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard officers lost sight of his 59-plate Peugeot 207 but located it minutes later nearby – and pulled him over.

Foster refused to take a roadside breath test, but a later sample given at a police station showed 61mcgs of alcohol in 100mcgs of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Magistrates have now disqualified him from driving for 18 months and hit him with fines and costs of £237.

Prosecutor Glenda Beck said: “Police were on patrol when they saw a Peugeot being driven at speed and which seemed in excess of 30mph on Southwick Road.

“Officers initially lost sight of the vehicle but picked it up and it was stopped on Old Mill Road.

“They saw the single occupant of the vehicle as being Mr Foster. Upon the driver’s door being opened there was a smell of alcohol.

“He admitted to having no insurance and no driving licence. He was invited to take a roadside breath test procedure, but he declined. He was arrested and taken to Southwick police station.

“The Camic procedure was undertaken and showed 61mcgs.”

Mrs Beck said that when interviewed, provisional licence holder Foster told police he had recently bought the vehicle for £400 and had intended to take his driving test.

Gerry Armstrong, defending, said: “He was asked to pull over and did so when police wanted him to do so.

“I know that the officers say that they could smell alcohol on him. That is a bit of a surprise to him. It is what it is. He pleads guilty at the first opportunity.

“He bought this car with the intention of taking his driving test and drove it believing he was under the limit, but he wasn’t.”

Foster, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence, was fined £120 and must pay £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.