A forgetful drink-driver who failed to turn his lights on at night has been banned from the roads.
Justin Wren, 50, only realised his mistake when a following police car stopped him.
Wren was caught in the early hours of Monday, June 16, in Western Approach, near Laygate, South Shields.
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He pulled over in nearby Erskine Road, where he gave a breath test reading approaching twice the limit.
Prosecutor Leanne Duffy told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “At 2.35am, officers were behind a vehicle in their marked car.
“Their attention was drawn to the vehicle as it was travelling with no lights illuminated.
“They illuminated their lights and the car was stopped.
“The driver was suspected of being under the influence of drink or drugs.”
Ms Duffy said Wren gave an evidential police station reading of 63mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.
Geoffrey Forrester, defending, admitted self-employed Wren had “no excuses” for driving while over the limit.
He added: “He thought that he was ok to drive but he wasn’t.
“He regrets that, and he must suffer the consequences of that.”
Wren, of Lindisfarne Recess, Jarrow, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £250, with £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
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