Paul Collier, 40, was stopped by police on St James' Boulevard on April 22 after his Mercedes was seen speeding and weaving across the road. He was arrested after failing a roadside breath test, and a search found a lock knife in his pocket.
Collier, of Framlington Place in Spital Tongues, Newcastle, later pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and possession of a knife. Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard he had a previous conviction for possessing a knife from 2007.
Officers noticed slurred speech
Prosecutor Clare Haswell said: "He was speeding and weaving across the road. Upon speaking to the defendant, officers noticed that he was slurring his words and he was arrested. On searching him, a lock knife was found in his pocket."
Collier gave a breath reading of 61 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
Defence cites mental health concerns
Jack Lovell, defending, said Collier moved to Newcastle from Leeds a number of years ago to turn his life around. He added: "There are some concerns about his mental health. He has been sectioned in the past. He has been struggling quite significantly over the last few weeks and his mental health has deteriorated more since his arrest for this offence. He thought he was being watched, which is why he left the house with the knife. He'd only had two drinks but they must have been strong ones."
Collier was given a 145-day prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, and was banned from driving for 17 months.
