Taxi driver flashed lights to warn police of drunk Shropshire motorist
A quick-thinking taxi driver alerted police to a drunk driver by flashing his lights as he passed a patrol, a court was told.
As police pulled out to follow the vehicles the taxi driver pulled over, allowing them to tail 21-year-old Matthew Jones as he swerved across lines on the A5.
Jones, of Cresswell Crescent, Gobowen, pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of alcohol when he appeared at Telford Magistrates Court.
He also admitted one charge of failing to surrender to bail having missed his first scheduled court appearance on July 14.
Mrs Katie Price, prosecuting, said Jones had slurred his words when speaking to police after they pulled him over at 2am on June 26.
She said that a taxi driver heading south on the A5 from Chirk had become worried about the way in which the Vauxhall Astra in front of him was being driven and, noticing a police car waiting at the side of the road, began to flash his lights to get their attention.
She said that once officers had got behind Jones' vehicle they observed it swerving side to side, crossing the white line and over-correcting.
Jones failed a roadside breath tested and later blew a reading of 60 micrograms in 100 ml of breath – the legal limit is 35, she added.
The court was told Jones, a farm worker, was a man of previous good character with no convictions.
He was banned from driving for 17 months and fined £165 plus total prosecution and court costs of £255.
Mr Oliver Nicholas, for Jones, said that his client had "genuinely forgotten about his court date" and had been arrested and held in custody after he had failed to appear in court.
He said that Jones had been to the pub that evening, but had walked to the premises and even walked home, only to find he had been locked out of his house in Gabowen by his parents - and did not have his keys.
Mr Nicholas said Jones had decided to drive the short distance to Oswestry to stay with a friend.
He said his client, who had a young child, would be hit by the ban as he had been looking for work outside the area which would have entailed the use of a car.
"For the sake of driving round to his friend's to get some sleep, he's attracted a driving ban, affected his employment and likely some fines as well," said Mr Nicholas.
