Ban for drink driver who pulled out on police car

A DRINK driver who pulled out in front of a police patrol car without any lights on was more than twice the legal alcohol limit.

Mark Tallentire, 35, was driving a Kia Sportage when he encountered the police on Fairfield Street, Oswaldtwistle, at around 11.15pm on November 23.

He was stopped by the officers on Mayfield Avenue, Blackburn Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Tracy Yates said: “The defendant pulled in front of the police car causing it to stop and they noticed it did not have lights on.

“When pulled over he told them he’d had around two pints.”

Miss Yates said that Tallentire was compliant with officers at the roadside and after his arrest provided a breath sample which registered 79mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Defence solicitor Scott Parker said that his client had been on a fishing trip that day and had dropped a friend off in Oswaldtwistle and had then drunk a ‘Stubby’ bottle of beer at their address.

He said that he believed something may have been added to the drink when he left the room to go to the toilet as he could not explain the high reading.

However, Mr Parker said that Tallentire would not be arguing for leniency due to ‘special reasons’, those being his drink was possibly laced.

He said Tallentire had previously held a job fitting tyres to HGV’s but he had to leave that role as he knew he was about to be banned from driving.

He said his client wished to apologise for his actions.

Tallentire, of Sunningdale Drive, Buckshaw Village, Chorley, pleaded guilty to drink driving.

The bench imposed an 18 month driving ban, fined him £120 and ordered him to pay £117 in costs and surcharges.