Mobility scooter driver spotted with can of lager banned
ADRUNK mobility scooter rider has been disqualified from driving after he was spotted holding a can of lager while behind the wheel.
William Lea was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit while operating the scooter, which reaches a maximum speed of 6mph.
One concerned resident alerted police after first spotting Lea, 63, asleep in his scooter before later seeing him with a can of alcohol while driving the scooter towards the post office on Sussex Road, Southport.
Lea, of Peel Street, Southport, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday to be sentenced for drink-driving and possession of a knife.
Andrew Page, prosecuting, told the court when officers arrived at Sussex Road in Southport they “found Mr Lea in the entrance of the Post Office”with “glazed eyes” while “unsteady in the seated position”.
After a breathalyser test came back positive Lea was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and when police searched him they found a knife.
Lea was found to have 71 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - over twice the legal drinkdrive limit.
The court heard Lea has one previous conviction from 2006 for excess alcohol.
Graeme Halliwell, defending, asked the judge to suspend any sentence and explained that the impending driving disqualification will cause problems. Mr Halliwell said: “He will not be able to use the mobility scooter which will cause him quite a loss of independence he will have to get friends and family to support him.”
Mr Halliwell explained that at no point was the knife produced and the court heard it was kept in a pouch on his belt.
The court heard the pocket knife was used for work purposes.
Lea, who admitted the offences at an earlier court hearing, also had to isolate himself during Covid due to his health, Mr Halliwell told the court.
Referring to Lea’s possession of a knife District Judge Paul Healey said:
“It is a serious offence, the public worry about knife crime, young people suffer life-changing injuries as a result of being in possession of knives.”
The judge dismissed Lea’s claim that he didn’t realise how serious the offence was and said: “I think it’s clear to everybody that possessing knives isn’t acceptable.”
Addressing the drink driving offence, the judge said operating the mobility scooter, which has a maximum speed of 6mph, under the influence “puts pedestrians at risk” as it “affects your ability to manoeuvre”.
District Judge Healey noted that Lea’s only previous conviction was in 2006 for excess alcohol and told Lea he had taken note of the presentence report and his “current circumstances”.
As well as being disqualified from driving for 16 months, the 63-yearold was handed a 16-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, and must adhere to a 7pm to 7am curfew for eight weeks.
District Judge Healey also ordered the knife to be forfeited and for Lea to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £128.