A driver who refused to give police a breath test will get his tag removed after just 10 days in order to go on holiday.
Colin Muse had been ordered to wear an alcohol monitoring tag for 90 days as part of his sentence for failing to provide a specimen earlier this month.
The purpose of the electronic device was to prove he could abstain from booze, a court heard, and was given as part of a community order.
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But the 59-year-old was back before magistrates in North Tyneside this week to make an application to have the tag removed so he and his wife could go on two-week holiday to Cyprus, which had been pre-booked.
The court was told that Muse, of St Edmund's Court, in Backworth, wouldn't be let through airport security with the device on nor be able to submerge it in water, should he want to swim.
Stuart Athey, representing Muse, said he'd been through a "difficult year" but had realised and was addressing his alcohol misuse and would serve the remainder of his 90-day tag when he returned.
Mr Athey added: "Because of his problems with alcohol, his dealings with the police over the failing to provide, realising his issues with alcohol and that he's an alcoholic, he's very much in need of this holiday.
"He won't be spending any less time on the tag as he'll serve it when he returns from holiday.
"He and his wife had had a very difficult year. They plan to retire to Cyprus and that's where they're going on holiday."
The court heard that Muse's tag could be temporarily removed but the term of it would start from scratch when it was re-applied.
The Probation Service also had no objections to the application as Muse had, since October 1 when he was sentenced, abstained from alcohol.
Magistrates agreed to alter the community order and Muse's tag will be put back on when he returns from Cyprus.
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