A FISH and chip shop owner from Whitchurch caught using a mobile phone and driving erratically while more than twice over the drink drive limit, has been disqualified from driving.
Ram Singh Sindhar, of 16 Joyce Way, Whitchurch, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit on June 6, when he was stopped by police driving a Peugeot 307 on the A41 at Higher Heath towards Whitchurch.
Police said the vehicle's driving had been erratic and that they smelt alcohol on his breath.
Following a positive roadside breathtest, Sindhar gave a reading at the police station of 71microgrammes of alcohol in 100mililitres of breath, the legal limit being 35.
The court heard that Sindhar, who had no previous convictions, was a self employed fish and chipshop owner from Whitchurch, who had been driving the short distance home after watching a football match.
He told the court his driving had been erratic because he was using a mobile phone, that he was not a regular drinker, and that he had been so upset by the incident that he had not touched alcohol since.
Sentencing Sindhar, Magistrates fined him £600 with a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs, but said his use of a mobile phone aggravated the offence, leading them to impose a longer 20month disqualification.