Builder loses his business

A self employed Scarborough builder’s business is in tatters after he supped beers bought for him by one of his customers before trying to driving home.

Christopher Wells, 56, of Briercliffe, was doing a 12-hour plastering job in Scarborough as a favour for a lady. The customer had given Wells the keys to her home while she went to the pub. Following the completion of the job, Wells went to return the lady’s keys and the she bought him a pint. After refusing a second pint, he took a half pint which Wells thought would mean he’d be under the limit. Katy Varlow, prosecting, said police saw Wells at around 10pm on April 28 in William Street car park in his Ford Transit van. Officers stopped him when they noticed he had a defective brake light and appeared to be driving cautiously.

A roadside breath test showed Wells had 50 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35 microgrammes. Wells pleaded guilty to drink driving at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Robert Vining, defending, said: “He was doing reasonably well but now his business is gone. He cannot drive now and is looking for employment.”

Duncan Webster, chairman of the bench, disqualified Wells from driving for 14 months and ordered him to pay a £400 fine, £85 in costs and a £40 surcharge.