A MOTORIST over twice the drink-drive limit faced being sacked from his job as a fork lift truck driver, a court was told.
Stephen Heyworth had been caught out in the early hours because he had no lights on his car.
Police stopped him, smelled alcohol on his breath and he told them: “I know I am over the limit. I have had six pints.”
Pennine magistrates heard how Heyworth gave a test at the police station which showed 82 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
The defendant (47), of Princess Street, Nelson, admitted driving with excess alcohol on October 27th in Hibson Road Nelson. Heyworth, who had a previous conviction for excess alcohol in 2005, was fined £110, with a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs. He was banned for three years.
Mr Jeremy Frain, for Heyworth, said the defendant had to drive forklift trucks on roads and streets around his workplace, as well as at the premises itself, and would not be able to do that when banned.
The defendant would still have to pay his car loan. He was depressed over what he had done, was “tremendously embarrassed” and had not been to work since. The solicitor added: “He realises he will be sacked.”
