A police sergeant is facing dismissal from the force after being convicted of drink-driving.
James Higgins, 47, who had 27 years service, denied the charge but was found guilty.
He was disqualified from driving for a year, fined £300 and ordered to pay £450 costs at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday.
The court heard that Higgins was found to have 113mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.
Higgins, of Rushleydale, Springfield, Chelmsford, drank four pints of beer at the Two Saxons pub, in Bodmin Road, on the evening of Sunday, April 3.
PC David Scott, of Chelmsford traffic police, said he saw a white Peugeot estate car leave the pub car park and after losing sight of it temporarily while he turned his car round, followed it to the defendant's home.
Sarah Vine, defending, said: "It would be difficult to ignore the shadow of politics that hangs over this case. There are severe consequences for either party, regardless of the findings today."
After the hearing, Higgins said he would appeal against the conviction.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Thursday, December 8, 2005
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