Drive drink pensioner banned from the road

Police were called to Asda in Skelmersdale at 10.15am on Wednesday, April 5 by a member of the public concerned that someone could be drinking-driving.

When they arrived, they found John Mangan, 72, sitting in a Citroen C3 Picasso with the engine running.

Wigan And Leigh Magistrates’ Court was told an officer turned off the engine and took the keys, because he could smell alcohol on Mangan.

A test showed he had 95 microgrammes of alcohol in 100mls of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35mgs.

Tess Kenyon, prosecuting, said Mangan told police that someone had taken him to Asda, but then accepted he had driven the car.

Mangan, of Abbeystead, Skelmersdale, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

David Lacide, defending, said: “On the night prior to the incident he had been drinking, he accepts that he was drinking at home. He drank quite a considerable amount.

“He went to bed and woke early in the morning in quite some discomfort and pain. He couldn’t pass urine.

“He had two further cans of lager because he considered it might act as a diuretic to get his system working again.”

Magistrates banned Mangan from driving for 24 months and ordered him to pay a £180 fine, £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge.