Lawyer caught drink-driving after job at police station

A LAWYER was caught drink-driving after officers decided to monitor him when they noticed he was intoxicated at a police station, where he had gone to meet a client, a court heard.

Christopher Lindsay, 41, was called to conduct a legal consultation at a South Shields custody suite on June 18. He was challenged by officers about whether he was fit enough to represent his client and, although he was deemed fit, police later saw him get into his car and they pulled him over.

A breath test revealed he was more than double the legal drink-drive limit.

Glenda Beck, prosecuting, told South Tyneside magistrates: “He was

‘It has been fatal to his career and he will be seeking alternative employment in due course’

challenged about whether he was fit enough to represent his client.

“He was deemed as fit enough, however the sergeant instructed his colleagues to keep him informed of the situation. He told them to keep observations on Lindsay’s car.”

When Lindsay was pulled over, he said he had last consumed alcohol the previous night. Ms Beck said: “[The officers] said they could smell intoxicants on him. He said there was no way they could smell intoxicants, but the smell was actually quite strong.”

Breath tests revealed that Lindsay had 74 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Tom Morgan, mitigating, said: “It has been fatal to his career and he will be seeking alternative employment in due course.”

Lindsay, of Windsor Court, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit and was fined £200 and ordered to pay £119 in costs and surcharges.

He was banned from driving for 40 months after magistrates heard he was also convicted of drink-driving in 2018.