Drink-driver acknowledged 'stupid' error

Roofer Lee Nuttall (31) headed towards Keighley Road, Colne, after turning into an alleyway when police, who had seen smoke coming from the “speeding” vehicle, illuminated their blue lights.

The area was searched and Nuttall was found a short distance away. He told officers he had had three small bottles of Stella lager that evening, Burnley magistrates heard.

The court was told the defendant, who lives in Keighley Road, blew 43 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Nuttall admitted driving with excess alcohol in Keighley Road, on September 2nd. The father-of-one was fined £120, with £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. He was banned for a year.

Miss Salina Akhtar, defending, told the court Nuttall had been trying to fix the vehicle and the fault was why it had smoke coming from it.

The solicitor continued: “He had just taken it on a test drive around the block. He had had two small bottles of Stella earlier that evening. He is a man who is used to drinking a lot more and at no point was there evidence he was highly intoxicated.”

Miss Akhtar said: “Shortly after running, he immediately realised his actions and he was walking back towards the police when he made the comment, ‘I know, I’m stupid’.”

The solicitor said Nuttall had worked for the same Burnley firm for 10 years. “After the offence was committed, he immediately spoke to his employer.

“His employer told him if he loses his licence he will lose his employment.”