A motorist had to get his mum to pay a £750 fine for him after admitting being drunk in charge of a vehicle.
District Judge David Cooper took the unusual step of fining Andrew Brooks and not disqualifying him from driving after finding the circumstances "exceptional".
The 39-year-old was sitting in his car with a friend waiting for a taxi when police officers stopped by, Colchester Magistrates' Court heard.
Brooks, of Wellesley Road, Clacton, was found to be above the legal drink-drive limit.
Judge Cooper told him: "In the exceptional circumstances of this case you will not be disqualified from driving.
"I'm satisfied there was no question of you driving, nor that you had been driving.
"There was, however, a potential danger, therefore I will fine you £750, put ten points on your licence and order you pay £55 costs."
Brooks said he would get his mother to pay the sum on her credit card.
Published Friday, February 11, 2005
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