Raunds man's shame at driving after 'six or seven pints'

A Raunds man wiped tears from his eyes as a court heard he 'stupidly' drove home after drinking six or seven pints.

Spencer Jennings, 50, was banned from driving for two years and handed unpaid work after admitting drink-driving at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday (February 27).

The court heard that on January 26 police received a call to say a man was driving a blue Mini erratically in High Street, Raunds, at about 5.45pm. The car was seen crossing over the road and clipping the kerb.

The person who called police followed it to a pizza place where Jennings, of De Ferneus Drive, got out before later driving off again. The concerned caller continued to follow him until police arrived.

Prosecuting, Julie Costello said: "He smelled of alcohol and his speech was slow."

Jennings was taken to custody and said he had had "a couple of beers" before he gave a reading of 110mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

A pre-sentence report read out by a probation officer said Jennings had had six or seven pints at the pub and was ashamed by his actions.

He said he was grateful for the person who reported him as it "could be much worse" and that he wanted to apologise to them.

Mitigating, Sarah Colby said Jennings had shown genuine remorse.

She said: "This will have a major impact on him.

"He has been told he will lose his job today.

"His work have been very supportive but his job involves lots of driving and he won't be able to do that."

As well as being banned from the roads Jennings will have to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and take part in rehabilitation activities. He must also pay costs of £85 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £90.

Chairman of the bench Fleur Boynton said: "You put people at risk."