Drink driver Stephen Watkins banned for offence in King Street, West Deeping

Police who saw two vehicles travelling at speed close to each other found one of the drivers to be more than twice the alcohol limit.

Stephen Watkins, 35, of Deeping St James, was banned for 22 months on Wednesday after pleading guilty to drink-driving in King Street, West Deeping, on February 10.

Officers approaching a T-junction in Barholm road had seen the vehicles, Boston Magistrates’ Court was told.

Lottie Tyler, prosecuting, said: “[Watkin’s] Land Rover was being driven close to the vehicle in front and it swerved across the road.

“The defendant was nearly touching the bumper of the car in front.”

After being stopped, Watkins told police he’d had “a couple of beers”.

Following arrest, he blew 86 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – more than twice the legal limit of 35.

Mike Alexander, mitigating, said his client was remorseful for the shameful offence, took responsibility for it and "had no true justification" for what happened.

“The pub was a rural pub not too far from his home address," said the solicitor.

"He doesn’t normally go to that pub, he doesn’t normally drink.

“He made a bad decision to drive.”

Watkins, of Darbyshire Close, can cut his ban with the completion of a drink-driver rehabilitation course.

He was fined £646 and ordered to pay £258 victim surcharge and £85 costs.