Food search leads to drink-drive ban
SPEEDING MOTORIST STOPPED BY POLICE IN EARLY HOURS
AN uninsured drink-driver has been banned from the roads after he was spotted speeding while going to buy food.
Armand Choudhry came to the attention of police in his Renault Scenic in the early hours on the West Road, Newcastle.
Officers observed the 34-year-old travelling in excess of the 40mph speed limit before his vehicle straddled white lines, a court heard.
Choudhry was pulled over and failed a roadside breath test, later giving a reading of 81 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is just 35.
He claimed he had been driving to buy food as didn’t think he was over the limit, despite drinking four cans of lager.
Now, Choudhry, of Hamilton Place,
Arthur’s Hill, has been banned for 20 months after he pleaded guilty to one count of driving with excess alcohol and one of driving without insurance at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor Cheryl Ford said police first spotted Choudhry’s car as it travelled along the West Road at around 3am on January 27.
She added: “It was travelling in excess of the 40mph speed limit and straddling white lines and, as a result, the officers pulled the vehicle over.
“Officers spoke to the defendant and could smell intoxicants and his speech was slurred.”
The court heard that Choudhry, who has no “recent or relevant past convictions”, was also uninsured. Jonathan Pigford, defending, said Choudhry had been struggling during lockdown and having time on his hands.
“Before lockdown, he was working in telecoms sales,” Mr Pigford continued. “It was a fast-paced job.
Lockdown introduced boredom and Mr Choudhry has been drinking more than he should.
“He had four cans of lager. He has been asleep for a short time, woke up and was driving to get some food. This is not his typical behaviour if he was holding down a typical nine-to-five job.”
Choudhry, who is now on Universal Credit, was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.