Man, 57, was four times over the limit

A drink driver was found to be more than four times over the limit when he was pulled over by police.

Officers received a tip-off that Philip Rutherford was drunk behind the wheel of his Audi and found him waiting at a level crossing, in Killingworth.

They followed the 57-year-old as he pulled away and drove on to Station Road before stopping him.

A court heard that Rutherford “smelled strongly” of alcohol and was arrested after he failed a roadside breath test.

He later gave a reading of 149 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is just 35.

Now, because of his high reading, Rutherford is facing a possible prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to one count of driving with excess alcohol at a hearing at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, which was sitting at Newcastle Crown Court on Christmas Eve.

Magistrates heard that it was on August 11 this year that police received a report that Rutherford was driving his red Audi while drunk.

Officers soon found him in Killingworth and he was pulled over and arrested.

Catherine Fowle, mitigating, said she appreciated the case would need to be adjourned for the preparation of a Pre-Sentence Report.

She added: “I don’t seek to address you at any length because of the alcohol reading on the sentencing guidelines. Mr Rutherford understands that that reading has a starting point of 12 weeks custody.

“This is a case where I very much think you would need the intervention of the Probation Service.

“He’s a very unwell man who has had prostate cancer and spent time in hospital.”

Magistrates agreed and adjourned the case for the preparation of a Pre-Sentence Report.

Rutherford was released on unconditional bail to next appear at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on January 14.