Drink-driving ban after 40 yards

Michael Cahalane's offence was committed in High Street, Mold

A man has been given a drink-driving ban after moving his son's car 40 yards while waiting for him outside a shop.

The solicitor for Michael Cahalane, 69, told magistrates at Mold there were special reasons not to ban him.

Cahalane, of Nercwys, Flintshire, was in the passenger seat when a police officer said it was double-parked.

He was over twice the legal limit when he moved the car 10 minutes later. He was given an interim driving ban and will be sentenced later.

Flintshire magistrates heard how the officer - who was waiting for Cahalane's son to return - saw Cahalane move the red Audi across Mold High Street to a free space up to 40 yards away.

A breath test later showed the pensioner had 92 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath, compared to the legal limit of 35.

The court heard the road was busy at the time, and he had not proved there was no possibility of him coming into contact with other road users or members of the public.

Prosecutor Peter Humphrey-Jones said the incident occurred on a Saturday evening, and the car was parked on the wrong side of the road, facing oncoming traffic.

Chris Jessie, defending, said: "He had not realised that the officer was waiting up the road, and when he saw an opportunity to put the car in a safer place, he took it."