DRINK-DRIVE OAP STOPPED YARDS FROM HOME

PENSIONER Paul Gilchrist has been banned from the roads for 12 months after he was caught drink-driving just 400 metres from his house.

Magistrates heard the 68-year-old was seen driving his Hyundai off the car park of the Bellringer pub in Kettering Drive, Eaton Park, at 11.50pm on November 19.

Police followed the car and stopped it. Gilchrist failed a roadside breath test and was taken into custody where he was breathalysed and gave a reading of 53 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Gilchrist, of Ellington Close, Eaton Park, pleaded guilty to drinkdriving when he appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

Robert Holt, mitigating, said his client had been playing crib. He lives about 400 metres from the pub and was stopped when he edged out of the car park.

Magistrates also fined Gilchrist £268, and ordered him to pay £135 costs and a £30 surcharge.