A former magistrate found himself before a court as a defendant for the first time after a recent arrest for drink driving.
Michael Gerard Bass appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on a single charge of driving with excess alcohol in his system.
The 75-year-old ex-JP, of North Lane, Willington, admitted the offence when it was put to him.
Lesley Burgess, prosecuting, said police attention was drawn to the defendant’s MG ZS vehicle due to the manner of his driving in the Willington area on Friday, August 29.
She said the officers noticed it was being driven close to parked cars and weaving between lanes, so the police vehicle siren was activated.
The defendant did not seem to react to this, but soon came to a natural stop outside an address on North Lane.
When officers approached Bass, they immediately formed the impression he was under the influence of alcohol.
He failed a roadside breathalyser and so was arrested and taken to a police station where the lowest of two further test readings given was 81mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, compared to the legal limit of 35mg.
Paul Green, representing Bass, said this was the defendant’s first offence at the age of 75.
“He’s ashamed and embarrassed to be appearing before a court, having served as a magistrate previously,” he said.
Mr Green said the defendant, a retired man on state pension, was going through a divorce at the time, which he found distressing and the situation was affecting his mental health.
“He said it was out of character, and he’s sought help and got help from his brother.
“He’s selling his vehicle and tells me he does not intend to drive in future.”
Magistrates’ chair Sian Allan-Gilbert told the defendant: “It’s very sad that you have come to the court for the first time, but we are where we are.”
The bench imposed a £120 fine, with £85 costs and a £48 statutory surcharge, totalling £253, which the defendant is to pay in 28 days.
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Bass was also banned from driving for 18 months, but was told he could reduce that by a quarter by passing a drink driver rehabilitation course.
But he declined to take up the opportunity as he repeated: “I have no intention of driving again.”
As he left court he repeated an apology and thanked the bench for being “lenient” with him.
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