A man caught drink-driving during a night time journey to pick up a friend has been banned from getting behind the wheel for 16 months.
Ciaran McCrickerd, 31, was stopped by police while in a Ford Focus which police officers had spotted on Ellenborough Main Street on September 6. The vehicle appeared to be speeding, Workington Magistrates’ Court was told.
McCrickerd, of Cedar Crescent, Maryport, had handed over his photo card driving licence and checks were carried out. “He appeared to be nervous. His behaviour was a bit erratic,” said prosecutor Pam Fee.
McCrickerd failed a roadside breath test and was arrested. An evidential specimen later showed 59 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath — above the legal limit of 35 mcg.
McCrickerd admitted a charge of driving a vehicle with the level of alcohol above the limit when he appeared in court.
Not legally represented during the hearing, he told magistrates he worked at the Sellafield site and was an electrical engineer.
“I work shifts at the minute. I drive myself,” said McCrickerd of his existing transport arrangements. “Obviously if I get a ban I will have to find some way to get to work.”
Of the offence itself, McCrickerd spoke of it being just an error of judgement. He had consumed a few drinks earlier in the evening. He went to sleep and then one of his friends had called, asked for a lift and he went to pick him up. “I felt okay,” he said.
Magistrates fined McCrickerd £715 and banned him from driving for 16 months with immediate effect. He agreed to take up the offer of a rehabilitation course which, if completed within a specified timescale, will see his driving disqualification cut by 16 weeks.
