[A] man who was driving on the M6 while being more than twice over the drink-drive limit has been sentenced.
Robin Scott, 52, was disqualified from driving for 3-years at Kendal Magistrate’s Court yesterday (May 10th), after pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle whilst being over the prescribed level of alcohol.
He was also fined £215 and ordered to pay £85 court costs, and £30 victim surcharge.
Scott, of Kelswick Drive, Nelson, Lancashire, was driving a white Ford Kuga hire car down lane 3 of the M6, when he veered into lane 2, then lane 1, causing the vehicle to collide with the rear of a Vauxhall Vivaro.
The incident, which took place just south of J40, at around 1.30pm on February 23rd of this year, caused extensive damage to the Vivaro and led to Scott’s car overturning into a grass verge.
Fortunately, no-one was injured.
Officers breathalysed Scott at the scene where he was found to have 95 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – 35 is the legal limit.
The defendant blew 79 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath once in custody (this is the figure used by the court).
When interviewed, Scott gave varying accounts for his alcohol consumption, including having two pints of lager before his journey, drinking the previous evening, and consuming vodka straight after the incident.
PC Simon Smith said: “Scott was driving significantly over the prescribed alcohol limit and this could have led to himself or others being seriously injured, or worse.
“It is a very serious offence to be in control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and this case shows that it is taken seriously by Cumbria Police and by the courts.
“I would like to thank the members of the public who stopped to help, including an off-duty paramedic, a van driver, and a HGV driver from Penrith, amongst others.
“We will continue to work hard to ensure drivers who pose a danger to others are removed from the roads.”
