The heir to a multi-million pound food firm is fighting a driving ban - despite admitting he was over the limit.
Alexander Vassallo - a promising rally car driver - pleaded guilty in January to drink driving.
He was more than twice the legal limit when he got behind the wheel of a BMW on Station Road, in Hexham, on June 22 2018.
However, North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard the offence occurred within a "very odd set of circumstances".
His solicitor said that 21-year-old Vassallo, who is listed as the director of West Lakes Fine Foods Limited, did drive on a garage forecourt - which was private land - but that he hadn't taken it on the public road.
Charles Wardell, defending, said: "We are accepting the fact that he drove on the forecourt.
"There was another driver we say was involved."
The defendant, of Stanhope in County Durham, was stopped on June 22 last year.
He faces an automatic ban - but will instead fight that at a hearing at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on December 2.
That date was set at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Wednesday will involve both a special reasons argument and a Newton hearing.
Scheduled for two hours, the defendant, from East Croft, will give reasons why he shouldn't face a road ban.
