Man admits drink-driving after West Norfolk village police stop

A man was caught driving at almost three times the alcohol limit near his home in St Germans.

Neil Hatton, 41, was seen by police to be driving a Vauxhall Viva slowly and swerving all over the road on April 24.

Prosecutor Michael Devaney told Lynn Magistrates’ Court that the officers noted it was the “perfect example” of the actions of a suspected drink-driver.

Hatton was pulled over in Magdalen High Road. A roadside test indicated 89 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35.

The level had risen to 101 micrograms by the time of an evidential test in custody.

The court was told that Hatton, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, had a previous conviction for excess alcohol in 2002.

In mitigation, Charlotte Winchester said: “He has shown remorse for what happened and has asked me to apologise to the court on his behalf.”

She said he had returned to the “crutch” of alcohol to cope with anxiety and exhaustion.

Hatton, of Fitton Road, was disqualified from driving for two years, which can be cut with completion of a drink-driver rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £615 and ordered to pay £105 costs plus a £62 victim surcharge.