DRINK-DRIVER TOLD TO WEAR TAG THAT ‘DETECTS BOOZE IN SWEAT’
Binman confiscated keys and called police
DRINK-DRIVER Paul Mountford was more than three times over the legal limit when he drove to a pharmacy.
The 58-year-old was seen ‘falling out of his car’ in Biddulph by a binman who confiscated his keys.
Police were called and Mountford was arrested, after initially refusing to take a breath test.
Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Mountford, who served in the Armed Forces, said he had a ‘bad reaction’ to some medication.
He has now been ordered to wear a tag that alerts the authorities if he drinks alcohol, as part of a community sentence.
Prosecutor Simon Dykes said: “Police received a 999 call from a refuse worker reporting that, while travelling down Well Street, he saw a Mercedes vehicle pull up abruptly and the male driver fall out of the driver’s side door.
“The driver was unable to stand up. The witness approached the vehicle, concerned the driver was having a medical episode.
“He was met with abuse. Mr Mountford smelled strongly of alcohol.
“The witness took possession of the car keys to prevent Mr Mountford from leaving. He contacted the police, who arrived a short time later.”
When officers arrived, Mountford was inside the car. The court heard he was slurring his words and officers were unable to converse with him.
He refused to take a breath test at the roadside, but co-operated with the procedure after being taken to custody.
Mountford, of Park Lane, Knypersley, gave an alcohol reading of 112 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. He pleaded guilty to driving while over the alcohol limit.
The court heard he had recently been released from custody after being on remand in connection with a separate case, and described it as ‘the worst thing he had ever experienced’.
Emma Wiseman, mitigating, said he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had been devastated by the breakdown of his 16-year relationship.
“This year has been dreadful for Mr Mountford,” she said. “His relationship broke down and he turned to alcohol, which has been an ongoing issue in his life.
“He served his country and suffers from PTSD. On the day in question he was having a reaction to medication he is taking for mental heath issues.
“At that stage he was drinking daily. He did not realise he could not drink with his medication. He has not drunk alcohol since.
“He had parked outside the pharmacy. He stumbled out of the car because he tripped on a mat.”
Magistrates handed Mountford a 12-month community order with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 80 hours of unpaid work.
He was given a 100-day alcohol abstinence requirement – which means he must wear a tag that can detect alcohol in his sweat – and was disqualified from driving for 26 months.