Bus driver was more than three times over drink limit when stopped by police

A BUS driver was more than three times over the alcohol limit when pulled over by police after they were alerted by a member of the public.

The caller told police a bus driver had been unconscious at the wheel before waking up and driving off down Mansfield Road, Nottingham, during the afternoon of February 25.

Police visited the Mansfield Road depot and then spotted the Local Link bus being driven with no passenger on board in Bar Lane, Basford.

It was eventually stopped on Stockhill Lane.

The driver, Satvinder Singh, 45, of Fearnleigh Drive in Basford, told police he had had a drink the night before.

He gave a positive test at the roadside, and blew 112 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35, at a police station.

He pleaded guilty to drink driving at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.

Paul Wood, prosecuting, said: “The offence is aggravated by the defendant driving a passenger vehicle whilst over the limit.”

Amanda Parker, representing father-offive Singh, said this was the first time he had appeared before the court in relation to this matter and he had entered his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.

“He is aware he is in a very serious position,” she told magistrates.

She said fortunately there was no accident, there was no suggestion of a bad manner of driving and he does pull up “when police put on their blue lights behind”.

He was fully cooperative at the roadside and back at the police station.

Miss Parker added: “The court will take a very dim view of the fact he was a bus driver at the time. He does have one previous conviction for excess alcohol 13 years ago.

“He accepts he is an alcoholic and has a deeply entrenched problem he needs help with,” added Miss Parker.

The magistrates ordered an “all options” pre-sentence report.

An interim driving disqualification was imposed.

He was granted bail to attend for sentencing on June 4.

Constable George Bramhall, Beat Manager for City North, had said after he was charged: “We worked quickly alongside various departments within the police force and the bus operator to locate the bus and were able to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

“We’d like to thank the member of the public who called us with their concerns and we will always act on this kind of information.”