A drink-driver stopped on a busy Tyneside road has been banned from the roads after he admitted driving with excess alcohol. Jonathan Dolan was pulled over by police on Newcastle's Central Motorway because his vehicle's lights were not on.
When officers spoke with the 34-year-old, they noticed he appeared intoxicated and ordered him to undertake a roadside breath test, which he failed, a court heard. Dolan was arrested and later gave a reading of 118mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is 35mcg.
Court hearing details
Dolan, of Hebron Avenue, in Morpeth, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol during a hearing at Newcastle Magistrates' Court. Chike Anieto, prosecuting, said police spotted Dolan in a Fiat Panda on September 13 this year.
"The officers noticed that the lights on the vehicle were not on," Mr Anieto continued. "The officers followed the vehicle and they attempted to stop it by means of their lights and sirens. The vehicle stopped. Following this, the defendant provided a positive roadside breath test and was arrested."
Defence and sentencing
The court heard that Dolan had no past convictions, worked part-time as a waiter and also cared for his mother. Janice Hall, defending, added: "He only realised after he was arrested how much alcohol he had consumed. As a direct result of this, he's not consumed alcohol at all since his arrest."
Because of the high breath reading, magistrates decided to adjourn the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Dolan was released on unconditional bail to appear back at the same court on October 28. In the meantime, he was given an interim driving ban.
