A Lincolnshire man has been caught drink driving just a few months after obtaining his HGV licence.
John Britchford, 53, of Old Place, Sleaford, admitted driving a motor vehicle when the amount of alcohol in his breath exceeded the prescribed limit when he appeared at Boston Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 20th December 2023.
This is an offence contrary to section 5(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or a fine at level 5 (unlimited) on summary conviction.
The court heard that Britchford's car was seen driving around the town of Bourne on the evening of Sunday, 3rd December 2023.
Allison McIlroy, prosecuting, said: "Police caused Mr Britchford's grey Audi Q5 to stop as a result of information received on an unrelated matter.
"Whilst speaking to him they believed he could have been drinking."
Britchford was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink.
A subsequent evidential breath test confirmed he had 60 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, which exceeded the prescribed limit of 35 microgrammes.
He confirmed to the court that he had consumed "about four-and-a-half pints", of which "two were shandies".
District Judge Peter Veits, sentencing, remarked: "You never know how much is in a shandy, do you?"
Britchford, who was unrepresented, told the court: "It was a huge mistake. I'm usually a law abiding citizen and this was stupid of me.
"I've got to live with the consequences and I'll never do it again."
The 53-year-old, who has no previous convictions, told the court that it was now likely he would lose his job as an HGV driver.
"I didn't think I was over the limit", he concluded.
Britchford was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and £48 surcharge.
He was also disqualified from driving for a period of 16 months, which will be reduced by 16 weeks if he successfully completes the drink-drive rehabilitation course.
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