Driving ban for man who blocked road then stumbled from car to pub

A MAN who stumbled from his car into a pub was found to be four times the drink-drive limit, a court heard.

Steven Norcross, aged 40, left his Renault Megane blocking a road, Plymouth magistrates were told.

Norcross, of Hornchurch Road, Ernesettle, admitted drink-driving on November 13 last year.

Magistrates heard when he was breathalysed back at the police station he was found to have 144 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of alcohol. The legal limit is 35.

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But his solicitor told the court his reading may have been affected by drinking in the pub after he had got out of his car.

Zeenat Begum, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said an anonymous caller reported a drink-driver in Milford Lane, Tamerton Foliot, at about 8.30pm.

She said officers found a Renault Megane "completely blocking" the road.

Miss Begum added: "Two witnesses described the driver stumbling and swaying from the vehicle, he seemed unable to walk properly."

The court heard police found Norcross in the nearby Kings Arms pub.

Miss Begum said Norcross at first denied driving the car and only changed his plea before his trial. He has a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2007.

Sarah Glanville, for Norcross, said he accepted he gave a high reading but did not know how much he had to drink after he got to the pub.

She added: "Over the past few months, with the support of his friends and family, he has come to terms with the fact that he has a serious drink problem.

"He and his wife have agreed this is something which is completely ruling their lives. He wants to get help."

Miss Glanville said Norcross had tried to see his GP but could not get an appointment. She added the couple had a 21-month-old baby and worked as a cleaner.

Magistrates adjourned sentence for Norcross to be assessed for a court order to tackle his drink habit. He was bailed until June 25 but given an interim driving ban.