Chef over limit

Ashley Newton came under police suspicion when he drove through traffic lights on red.

Newton, 25, of Prior Road, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Martine Connah, prosecuting, said police saw Newton driving a BMW on Kilnhouse Lane, St Annes, on June 27 about midnight.

He was stopped after he drove through red lights onto Queensway and was seen weaving about the road.

He told police he had drunk three pints within the last hour. A breath test showed 49 micrograms of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.

Paul Robinson, defending, said on the day of the offence Newton had worked 13 hours as a chef at the Queensway Harvester pub and eaten nothing. He finished about 10.30pm and stayed for some drinks. He now faced losing his job if he could not use public transport to get to his shifts.

Newton was banned from the road for three years, fined £300 with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £150 court charge with £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.