Good turn ends in drive ban

MAGISTRATES sympathised with an Oldham man who snatched the keys of a drunken pal to stop him from driving.

Robbie Clarke’s good intentions backfired after he jumped into the car and parked it out of sight 200 yards away.

On returning to his friends, police noticed he had been drinking and he failed a breath test.

Prosecutor Sean Brady said Clarke who had been on a boozy night out in Manchester with several friends, was nearly two and a half times above the limit.

Banning him from driving for 12 months the bench told him: “We have every sympathy for you”. You believed you were doing the right thing but unfortunately you broke the law”.

Clarke (29) of Woodpark Close, Fitton Hill, pleaded guilty to drunken driving and was fined £150 and £50 costs.

Mr Brady said Clarke’s friend had insisted on driving and it led to a bust up which was reported to the police.