Shropshire drink-driver, 23, spotted mounting verges

Robert Smith was seen by police on the A4117 in Cleobury Mortimer driving at high speeds, crossing into the wrong lane and mounting grass verges.

A breath test at a police station after he was stopped showed he had 99 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – almost three times the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

His solicitor Rachel Pennington told Shrewsbury Crown Court that Smith had recently been diagnosed as bi-polar but did not feel that the medication to treat it had been working effectively. She said: "He made the decision to self-medicate with alcohol."

The 23-year- old of Larks Rise, Cleobury Mortimer, admitted the charges of dangerous driving and driving above the legal limit for alcohol when he appeared at court.

Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said police were informed about a Seat Leon that it was believed was being driven by a drink driver.

He said: "They first saw the vehicle on the A4117 being driven from the Kidderminster direction.

"As it approached a right hand bend, coming from the opposite direction, it appeared to lose control and went into the wrong lane. The police had to take evasive action."

The car was then seen parked up on the side of the road but sped off at speed when approached by police. It was followed by another police car and officers saw it lose control in a left hand bend, mounting a grass verge and travelling in the wrong lane and straddling white lines separating the two lanes.

Officers lost sight of the car at the crossroads at Clee Hill, but the car was found parked near to a pub. Smith was 10 yards away holding keys that were later used to access the car. He admitted the incident in interview with police.

Smith had a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2010, which Ms Rachel Pennington, defending, said had been when he was 17.

He had recently passed his driving test and he had blown a reading of 40 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, she said.

Ms Pennington, said: "He has described his actions as absolutely stupid considering his past. The decision to drive and his condition while driving put others at risk."

Judge Peter Barrie, sentencing, said that Smith's actions could have had "catastrophic consequences".

Smith was given a 16-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, for the dangerous driving charge, and a further four weeks suspended for 12 months for drink driving, to run concurrently.

He was also banned from driving for 14 months, with the opportunity to take a driving course which could reduce the length of the ban. He was also told to complete a rehabilitation course of 20 days and a further 80 hours of unpaid work and must pay costs of £535.