A MAN who drove while more than three and a half times the drink drive limit after arguing with his wife has been banned from driving for three years.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe also ordered John Aitken to pay £635 in fines and costs when he appeared today (Friday, December 7).

Prosecutor Blair Martin said police found Aitken sitting in his Ford Mondeo at a lay-by near Marwood in Teesdale at about 9.30pm on November 22.

Mr Martin said Aitken, 51, of Beaumont Street in Bishop Auckland, smelt of alcohol and an open bottle of whiskey was in the car.

He was found to have 123 mcg of alcohol in 100mll of blood, the legal limit being 35mcg, the court heard.

Aitken told police that he had been drinking at home when he got into an argument with his wife and left, the prosecutor said.

The court heard he then drove to a shop, bought the bottle of whiskey and took a swig before driving to the layby on the B6278 where he drank some more.

John Turner in mitigation said Aitken, a self-employed building maintenance man, faces difficulty finding work and that his wife will suffer from the ban as he will be unable to drive her to hospital appointments.

Mr Turner said: “He feels great remorse about the incident and fears the worst.”

Magistrates said Aitken could have been jailed but they decided to fine him instead due to his previous good character.