M6: Drink-driving dad drove 20 miles before police stopped him

James Price was sentenced at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to driving his Ford Transit Tipper above the legal alcohol limit, failing to stop and driving without both insurance and a valid licence. Peter Kelly, prosecuting, said road traffic police witnessed the 57-year-old weaving in and out of lanes while travelling northbound on the M6 at Junction 37 on October 12 this year. "Officers illuminated their blue lights to stop the vehicle but it failed to stop and continued for another 20 miles.

The vehicle was not driving at excessive speed. Officers could not get in front of other traffic to stop the defendant." The court heard police had to stop traffic further up the motorway between Junctions 39 and 40 in order to halt the defendant.

Mr Kelly said Price was arrested after providing a positive roadside breathalyser test. the lowest reading was 56 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. In mitigation, defence solicitor Andy Gallagher said: "He is embarrassed and ashamed. That's an understatement.

He has let his family and his children down. "On this occasion he had been in Lancaster for a job. He met someone and had a couple of drinks.

He didn't believe he was over the limit when he set off. "He was aware of the police behind him and saw the lights, but he did not believe he had done anything wrong with never being in trouble before. He didn't believe they were seeking to pull him over.

It is a struggle to describe this as a pursuit."

Magistrates banned Price, of Lakeland View Caravan Park, Greengill, near Penrith. for 20 months but offered him the opportunity to complete a drink driving rehabilitation course.

They also fined the defendant ?466 and ordered that he pay ?85 in court costs and a ?186 victim surcharge.