Bar worker banned from the roads after being spotted by cops while more than twice the drink drive limit

Ian Griffin, 40, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Griffin, of Maslin Grove, Peterlee, was spotted by police veering across the B1284 road at East Rainton and braking unnecessarily, said Clare Irving, prosecuting.

When he was breathalysed he was found to have 88 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath with the limit being 35.

Ms Irving said Griffin is a man of previous good character.

Jason Smith, defending, said his client is a bar work and had accepted a couple to drinks from his boss after a long day at work on December 9 last year.

He said: “He got to the end of a shift and his boss offered him a couple of drinks. He had a couple of drinks and he should not have done and he knows that.”

Mr Smith said Griffin co-operated fully with the police and admitted his guilt straight away.

He said he will now lose his job because he will not be able to get there to work his shifts.

Mr Smith said: “He can do no more than apologise for his actions.”

District Judge Kathryn Meek said by working in a pub Griffin should know how quickly judgement can be impaired by alcohol.

Griffin was fined £250 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a surcharge of £32. He was banned from driving for 20 months.