Michael Bye, a 41-year-old from Ashington, Northumberland, has been handed a three-year driving ban and an 18-month community order after being caught riding a petrol scooter while drunk. Bye was already disqualified from driving following a 2023 conviction for dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.
Police stop on Rosalind Street
On March 20, 2026, police on mobile patrol spotted Bye riding a petrol scooter on Rosalind Street in Ashington. Officers stopped him because he appeared intoxicated. A roadside breath test gave a reading of 76mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, nearly twice the legal limit of 35mcg.
Bye was arrested and taken to custody but refused to provide a further breath sample for analysis. It was also established that he was a disqualified driver. The court heard that Bye had 54 previous offences on his record, many related to driving.
Court hearing and sentence
Appearing at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court, Bye pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance, and failing to provide a specimen of breath. James Long, prosecuting, said Bye's previous driving convictions from 2023 meant he must receive a minimum three-year ban.
Paul Dunn, defending, said Bye had retrieved the scooter after it was stolen and drove it a very short distance to get away from the thief. Dunn added: “There was a fallout between him and the person who had the scooter and he had to get away from that person, so he drove the scooter. It was a very short distance driven. His alcohol consumption is the main reason for his offending.”
Impact and legal consequences
Magistrates imposed an 18-month community order with rehabilitation requirements and banned Bye from driving for three years. He must also take an extended retest before he can legally drive again. The case highlights the strict penalties for drink-driving and driving while disqualified in the UK.
