Drink-driver was headed for the police station (From Gazette)

Drink-driver was headed for the police station

8:00am Wednesday 20th January 2010 in News

A MAN was more than three times over the drink limit when he drove to Colchester police station to report he had been in an argument in a pub.

James O’Mahoney’s behaviour was described as “far from the best thing to do” when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Sharon Hall, prosecuting, said the 45-year-old had tried to drive into the car park at the police station in Southway.

“Officers did not recognise the car or him as he pulled up to the gate. They went out to speak to him and he said he wanted to report a crime, but they could smell alcohol on his breath.”

He was arrested and gave a breath test of 114mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

O’Mahoney, an unemployed bricklayer, of Broadway, Silver End, admitted drink-driving on December 29.

Peter Young, mitigating, described his client’s behaviour as “rather bizarre”. At the time he had been living with friends in Titania Close, Colchester, and they had gone to the pub together.

“A row started and he was told he was no longer welcome,” Mr Young said.

“He went back, packed his belongings and felt that he needed to talk to police about what had happened.

“He now knows it was far from the best thing to do in the circumstances.”

Magistrates sentenced O’Mahoney to 100 hours unpaid work and banned him from driving for 28 months.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs.