A-Level student was over drink drive limit

An A-Level student has been from banned from driving after consuming so much booze he swerved across a 40mph coastal road while being tailed by police.

Alexander Buur, 20, of Bloomfield Court, Roker Marina, Sunderland, was spotted driving erratically on the Coast Road at South Shields at 10.25pm on Friday, February 14, a court heard.

He was followed until he pulled over and got out of his private-plate Jeep in Arthur Road, Marsden, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.

Prosecutor Kirstie Divine said police approached him and immediately smelled booze, and a roadside breath test revealed he had 53 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Mrs Divine told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “The vehicle does a U-turn in front of officers and then exceeds the speed limit.

“He drives over the centre of the road, with two wheels over. He then drives to Kitchener Road and into Arthur Road, before coming to a stop.”

Michelle Stonley, defending, said Buur was in the UK studying A-Levels, including psychology and business.

She added: “He tells me that he has no convictions against him in Switzerland. He lives with a host family, the car was a gift.

“On the night in question his friend had purchased alcohol and he stupidly agreed to drive. He is remorseful.”

District Judge Paul Currer told Burr: “Driving whilst over the legal limit is always a serious offence and always warrants a disqualification.”

Buur was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £200 and must pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.