Bassetlaw man banned for drink-driving after downing lager on receiving sad news

Police were informed after Andrew Wells was seen staggering out of a supermarket and driving of in a red Skoda, on February 8, said prosecutor Daniel Wilshaw.

Checks led them to his home address where he told them he’d consumed a few pints of lager earlier that day.

A breath test revealed he has 55 microgrammes of alcohol when the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Treve Lander, mitigating, said Wells, of previous good character, had been “going through a tough time” after learning that a friend had been diagnosed with a terminal illness

The 58-year-old, of Sandy Lane, Gamston, Retford, admitted drink driving when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He was banned for 15 months but a rehabilitation course could reduce the ban by 15 weeks.

He was fined £325 and ordered to pay a £130 surcharge and £85 costs.