Drink driver warned he faces jail if he's found over the limit behind the wheel again
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Scott MacDonald, 28, followed instructions to pull his Vauxhall Corsa over as he drove in Hollingside Road, Nookside, on Saturday, January 2.
But MacDonald, of Cottonwood, Shiney Row, bizarrely decided not to hang around to find out what he had done wrong, a court was told.
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Hide AdHe made his move but was collared by officers almost immediately – and a breath test showed he was over the drink-drive limit.
Magistrates in South Tyneside heard MacDonald had appeared in court in September to admit to being in charge of a vehicle with excess alcohol.
The machine operator was given penalty points for that offence but not a driving ban.
But he has now been disqualified for 19 months after pleading guilty to drink-driving, his latest motoring infringement.
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Hide AdProsecutor Grace Taylor said: “Officers stopped the defendant’s vehicle for speeding.
“The defendant pulled over as requested, but got out of the car and walked away. He was followed, chased and detained.
“A required breath test was failed, and he was taken to the police station.”
Ms Taylor said MacDonald provided a sample which showed 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
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Hide AdJoanne Gatens, defending, said: “On the other charge, he was asleep in the vehicle. He pleaded guilty, it was a number of months ago.
“He tells me that since the incident, he has not drunk and has been in touch with the AA, to perhaps offer some support around alcohol.
“It was a misjudgement to drive on his behalf, he was over the limit.
“He was terrified about going to prison and wants to show that he has taken this seriously. He understands the seriousness of this.”
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Hide AdDistrict Judge Kathryn Meek told Mrs Gatens: “He’s a man that, if there’s another one, he’ll be going to prison.”
As well as the driving ban, Judge Meek ordered MacDonald to complete 100 hours of unpaid work as part of an 18-month community order.
He must also pay a £95 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.