An alcoholic is starting a two-month prison sentence after admitting driving while nearly four times the legal limit.
Christopher Roberts, 45, of Standard Avenue, Jaywick, admitted the charge when he appeared before Colchester magistrates.
James Boyle, prosecuting, said Roberts was spotted erratically driving a Ford Fiesta at 6.50am on August 14 in Jaywick Lane, Clacton.
When stopped by police officers, Roberts refused to give a breath test and so was arrested and taken to a police station. He then submitted to a test which showed 124 mcgs of alcohol. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.
Dieter Kehler, in mitigation, said Roberts was unemployed and on disability benefits in relation to his alcoholism.
He also suffered from stress and depression due to the break-up of his marriage and generally spent the majority of each day at home only leaving to go shopping.
Magistrates imposed the two-month prison sentence saying it was an "exceptionally high" reading of alcohol and that he had no good reason for driving.
Roberts was also disqualified from driving for three years and sentenced to a further one day in prison for outstanding costs of £83 from a previous court case.
Published Wednesday, September 8, 2004
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