A MOTORIST who drove when more than three times over the legal alcohol limit has avoided an immediate prison sentence.
Steven Allen received a “wake-up call” about his alcohol problem after he was found slumped in the driver’s seat of his car with the engine running.
He appeared before Spalding magistrates on Thursday when he was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for driving a motor vehicle on New Road, Sutton Bridge, on March 21 with an alcohol level above the legal limit.
He also received 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, for driving while disqualified. The sentences to run concurrently.
Allen (47), of Kenzie Drive, Sutton Bridge, is required to complete 12 months’ supervision and a six-month alcohol treatment programme after he was found to have a level of 110 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, compared to a legal limit of 35 microgrammes.
A charge of driving without insurance was also dealt with, while another charge of being in charge of a vehicle whilst unfit through drink was withdrawn.
Miss Rebecca Ritson, prosecuting, said a man who noticed a car parked outside his house went to investigate it and found find Allen drunk inside with his car keys in the ignition.
He was then arrested by police who later received confirmation that Allen had been seen driving at 10mph in a 60mph area.
Mr Dav Naghen, mitigating, said Allen had been reducing his drinking habit but still had a “chronic alcohol problem”.
He said: “Mr Allen is appreciative that he is far from out of the woods yet and this matter is a wake-up call for him.
“We do have somebody who has shown he can stay out of trouble with the right help.”
Allen was also ordered to pay £150 costs.