A drink-driver caught by police over the limit after driving to buy butter from Tesco has been given a 17-month ban.
Richard Simonini, 58, was approached by officers in Carlisle at around 10pm on August 18. They had received a report from a member of the public who was concerned about the state of a man driving a vehicle to Tesco before going into the store.
PCs waited outside beside a Suzuki Swift and Simonini returned. He was clearly under the influence, Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard today but fully co-operative with police.
Officers had initially suspected Simonini of merely being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal limit.
But prosecutor Graeme Tindall told magistrates Simonini had admitted during interview that he had actually driven after drinking alcohol, intent on buying butter from the store.
Simonini, of Montgomery Court, Carlisle, admitted drink-driving having failed a test which showed he had 61 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.
A defence solicitor said Simonini had no previous relevant previous convictions and that the imminent driving disqualification would have a devastating impact on a defendant who worked as a security guard.
From the dock, Simonini had said to magistrates as he entered his guilty plea: “Basically I was stupid.”
He was fined £392 and given a 17-month driving ban. This will be cut by 17 weeks if Simonini successfully completes a drink-drive rehabilitation course which was offered by magistrates.
