A 21-YEAR-OLD vehicle technician has been told he will be banned from driving after being caught behind the wheel more than twice the drink-drive limit.

Lewis Paul Jordan Cartwright was arrested after a taxi driver witnessed a silver Lexus being “driven in an erratic manner” in Darlington town centre.

The car was first spotted by the taxi driver on Skinnergate at around 1.40am on Sunday, August 19.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday that the taxi driver decided to follow the Lexus and called the police.

Joanne Hesse, prosecuting, said: “[The taxi driver] called the police as he thought the driver was drunk.

“He followed the car to an address in Caledonian way and police were called to the scene.

"When they arrived, the defendant told the police: ‘I’ll admit I’ve had a couple of drinks, but I’m not a bad lad’.

“He was then taken to Darlington Police Station.”

In custody, Cartwright provided a breath sample of 76 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal drink-drive limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol.

The court heard that Cartwright works as a vehicle technician and admitted he was “not fully sure” what was going to happen to his job as a result of the drink-drinking charge.

The 21-year-old, who represented himself in court, said: “I can’t really stand up for myself, but I realise where I’ve messed up. I’ve already quit drinking. It was a one-off.”

Cartwright was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £369. He must also pay £85 in court costs and £36 victim surcharge.