A MOTORIST who tried to "replicate" the death of his girlfriend while two and a half times over the drink drive limit has been banned from the roads for 28-months.

Martin Saunders, 32, of Oakdene Road, Fishburn, County Durham, was arrested by police on Sunday, June 29.

Officers were called to Salters Lane, Sedgefield, at about midnight over reports that Saunders was trying to restage the fatal car accident, on the A177, near Cornforth, which claimed the life of his girlfriend of seven years.

Police stopped Saunders’ Audi A4 and arrested him. He gave a breath test reading of 121mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Prosecutor Jon Garside, told Newton Aycliffe magistrates that a gram of cocaine was also found in the car.

"The police were informed that he was driving and that he was trying to replicate the death of his girlfriend," he added.

Saunders pleaded guilty to drink driving and also to possessing a controlled drug.

Lawrence Petterson, mitigating, said Saunders had been to see the family of his girlfriend before visiting the crash scene.

He said his client was returning home when he was stopped by the police and there had been no complaints over the standard of his driving.

Saunders was fined £400 for the drink driving charge and he will pay £85 court costs and a £40 victim surcharge on top of the 28-month ban.

No separate penalty was imposed on the drugs charge.