A MAN who had downed a bottle of whiskey was found shoeless and dribbling after swerving his mobility scooter all over the road in the early hours of the morning.

John Hunt escaped a driving ban after he was found by officers in Old Heath Road, Colchester, slumped in his scooter stinking of booze.

A worried witness had contacted the police after Hunt, of Fingringhoe Road, was seen riding the motorised vehicle “all over the road”.

Officers discovered the 54-year-old had drunk a full bottle of Bells whiskey in town before trying to drive the scooter home.

They spent one hour and 15 minutes helping Hunt, before he was reported for being drunk in charge of a mechanically-propelled vehicle.

Hunt admitted the charge at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

Tess Mann, prosecuting, said: “This happened at about 12.45am when a member of the public called the police after witnessing a man in the road drunk on a mobility scooter.

“The witness said the defendant had been riding the scooter all over the road, putting himself and other road users in danger.

“The witness called the police because he was worried about the man’s well-being and was frightened he would have an accident.

“When the police arrived, they firstly spoke to the witness and then the defendant, who smelled strongly of alcohol, was unable to sit up in the mobility scooter properly and had to be stopped from falling out.

“He had lost a shoe, which was on the floor beside him and was also dribbling.

“Officers formed the conclusion the defendant was drunk.”

She added: “The defendant confirmed he had been in town, consumed a bottle of Bell’s whiskey and was on his way home.

“He was a mile away from the town centre when stopped.

“It was an electrically-powered scooter with a light on the front of it, but the road was dark as the street lights were turned off.

“Officers assisted him in getting home, he got back at 2am and was reported for the offence of being drunk in charge of a mechanically-propelled vehicle.

“In total, officers spent an hour and 15 minutes dealing with him.”

Matthew Bone, mitigating, said Hunt suffered from a wasting disease and had a problem with alcohol.

He said: “The court may agree with the submission that officers did all they possibly could to assist Mr Hunt.

“On that basis Mr Hunt is embarrassed and ashamed.

“It is quite clear the officers had the safety and interest of this gentlemen at the heart of what they were doing.

“Mr Hunt suffers from Muscular Dystrophy, a wasting disease, and has been wheelchair bound for the past ten years.

“For many years, drink was all-consuming in his life.

“He tells me he has not drunk for 13 days.”

He added: “He uses the mobility scooter a lot, it adds to his independence.

“If he is disqualified, it will prevent him from using that lifeline.”

Hunt was fined £120, ordered to pay £115 in costs and ten penalty points were added to his driving licence.

Magistrates told Hunt: “We don’t want people riding around the streets endangering themselves and causing accidents with other vehicles.

“We are concerned about the fact that you drunk a bottle of Bell’s before you started driving this machine.

“However there are special circumstances here as far as your personal ability to travel around Colchester is concerned.”