A self-employed electrician has lost his work along with his driving licence after pleading guilty to an excess alcohol charge.
Robert Stapleton (27), of Roman Bank, Holbeach Bank, was stopped on November 24 by police because they thought he was driving slightly over the speed limit in Hallgate, Holbeach.
Allison Cunningham, prosecuting, said a police officer stopped Stapleton, spoke to him and noticed his breath smelled of alcohol.
A test at the police station later revealed he had 61 microgrammes of alcohol in breath – the legal limit is 35mcgs.
Stapleton was banned from driving for 16 months, fined £400 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £40 victim when he appeared at Spalding Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Magistrates will allow him to cut four months off the ban if he completes a rehabilitation course at his own expense.
Presiding magistrate Hildegarde Carter told Stapleton: “We take drink-driving seriously, very seriously.”
Solicitor David Lee, mitigating, said Stapleton was a self-employed electrician but the bulk of his work comes from one contract, which requires him to drive throughout Lincolnshire and occasionally as far south as London and as far north as Sunderland.
“He accepts fully he was drink-driving, but he didn’t realise he was over the limit,” Mr Lee said.
The court heard Stapleton had a full driving licence with no previous convictions.