Downham Market drink-driver arrested on his driveway after Tesco staff reported him

A driver was arrested on his own driveway after being reported for suspected drink-driving by supermarket staff.

James Morris, 70, of Masefield Drive, Downham, admitted drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates at Lynn on Thursday.

Asif Akram, prosecuting, said staff at Tesco in London Road, Downham, called police after Morris had bought more alcohol while appearing to be intoxicated before getting into a car.

Police traced the vehicle’s owner to an address in Masefield Drive and a police officer had witnessed Morris leave the driver’s side of the car and stumble towards the boot.

The officer asked Morris if he had been driving and he confirmed he had. Morris was then asked to provide a roadside breath test which proved positive. A further test at the police station showed he had 112mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35mcg.

George Sorrell, mitigating, said Morris was having difficulties at the time including concerns over cancer and having a bad back which left him needing to use a walking stick.

He had also recently moved home from Canterbury and that had resulted in some unhappiness between him and his wife.

Mr Sorrell said: “Having been free of alcohol for 20 months for some inexplicable reason he decided to resort to alcohol once again to help with his problems. But once he starts to drink he cannot control it and just drinks more and more and that’s reflected in the reading – he was only eight points away from making you have to consider a custodial sentence.”

Mr Sorrell said Morris had now addressed those issues through independent counselling and was a man of otherwise impeccable character.

Magistrates disqualified Morris for 26 months but offered him the driver's rehabilitation course which will reduce that by 26 weeks if completed.

He was fined £846 with £85 costs and £338 victim surcharge.