Driver over limit

Courtney Clark was more than twice over the alcohol limit when police stopped him near the home he shared with his partner.

Clarke, 24, of Seymour Road, Lytham, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol while disqualified, without insurance and taking a car without consent.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work for the community, put on up to 30 days rehabilitation, banned from driving for four years and told to pay a £150 court charge with £85 costs plus £80 victims’ surcharge.

He appeared before a judge at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

The court was told that on May 18 Clark was disqualified from driving for 18 months for failing to provide a breath specimen.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said police were called to a disturbance at the address Clark shared with his partner on June 6 in the early hours.

Officers left, but not long afterwards Clark was seen driving away in his partner’s car and stopped. A breath test showed 86 micrograms of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.

Brett Chappell, defending, said the night of the offence his client had drunk copious amounts of wine and vodka.