After hearing his explanation magistrates hit him with a three-year driving ban and a £100 fine.

John Robert Feeley accepted that he had drunk two pints of Stella and a double Jack Daniel's whiskey and Coke when he got behind the wheel on Friday, April 25 but told magistrates it was to kill the pain.

He claimed that he went to the aid of his partner's niece who unexpectedly phoned and asked to be picked up from the town's Church Street late at night, after having "difficulties" with her partner.

Hartlepool Magistrates' Court heard that Feeley arrived at the nightlife hot spot, and, unable to find the damsel in distress, decided to have a pint while waiting.

Mitigating, Dave Smith said that Feeley was blighted by a tooth condition that led to him drink.

He said that he has a "tooth that cuts deeply into his tongue."

He added: "He bought the Jack Daniel's to swill round and disinfect this wound."

Prosecuting, Stephen Hill told magistrates that Feeley was driving a Vauxhall Astra in the town's Raby Road, where he lives, when he was stopped by police at 1.45am.

Mr Hill said that Feeley, 25, failed a roadside breath test and provided a sample at the police station that read 67 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.

Mr Smith added: "Not wishing to play down the seriousness of the matter, it's not the highest reading that you can find."

The court heard that Feeley, who pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit, has a similar offence for drink driving in 2002.

Magistrates banned Feeley from driving for three years, fined him £100 and ordered him to pay £87 court costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge.