Gayton man Paul Cook in King’s Lynn court after drink-driving

A 75-year-old wound up in court after mounting a verge while drink-driving last month.

Paul Cook, of Grimston Road in Gayton, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. He pleaded guilty to the offence.

He committed it on October 20, when he was driving a Vauxhall Astra on Lynn Road heading into the town.

Crown prosecutor Holly Postle told the court that police were on mobile patrol when they spotted Cook, noting that he was travelling at a slow speed compared to other traffic.

Officers then saw him swerve across the road and mount a verge, and subsequently pulled him over and asked him to carry out a roadside breath rest.

He failed that and was arrested, and at the station provided an evidential sample of 55mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit to drive is 35mcg.

Appearing unrepresented, Cook offered little mitigation and admitted he was “bang to rights”.

Magistrates, led by Ginny Hutton, disqualified him from driving for 15 months. He was offered a drink-driving rehabilitation course which, if completed by a specified date, will reduce that timeframe.

Cook was also fined £120, and will pay £105 in court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.