An uninsured drink driver, who ended up driving on tram tracks and causing £6,000 of damage to his week old Mercedes Benz, has received a 17 month driving ban.
The drink driver, Maurice Cooney, had to raise the alarm at a nearby office after his car was stranded on the Midland Metro tram tracks.
His stranded car caused some 5 hours worth of delays for commuters whilst the problem was taken care of.
Cooney was breathalysed when police arrived and he gave a reading of 86mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The current legal limit in England and Wales is 35mg.
At Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, Cooney admitted to drink driving, driving without insurance and causing a danger or inconvenience.
The court heard that Cooney had been drinking the night before the incident, but thought he was okay to drive.
Commenting on the case, Pc Lee Byrne, of British Transport Police, said: “With the party season just around the corner, this is a timely reminder about the dangers of drink-driving.
“While Cooney is extremely apologetic for his actions, there is never any excuse for getting behind the wheel while drunk and why he thought he was okay to drive despite only stopping drinking an hour beforehand beggars belief.
“On this occasion he is lucky it’s just his wallet and pride which have taken the hit. Had he driven on the tracks just an hour later when the trams were running, the consequences could have been catastrophic.”
Cooney was disqualified from driving for 17 months, fined some £246 and ordered to pay costs of £135.
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