A drunk man who drove his step-mum’s electric mobility scooter to a McDonald’s after a night boozing has been banned from driving. Liam Smith, 20, was spotted careering towards a police car on the three-wheeled e-scooter with a woman on the back. Neither of the pair were wearing helmets when police saw them at 4am on January 14 this year.
Officers became suspicious when Smith staggered into the McDonald’s restaurant. Smith was arrested and a breath test at a police station showed he had 93mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – three times the legal limit of 35mcg. He admitted drink driving when he appeared in court on Friday and was banned from driving for 23 months. Smith, of Malvern, was also fined £198 and ordered to pay costs of £135 and victim surcharge of £79.
Fatima Yasmin, prosecuting, said: “Police were called to McDonald's in Three Counties Retail Park on January 14 this year at around 4am in the morning to an unrelated incident. While there police observed Smith driving the three wheel bike towards them at high speed.
"A female passenger was on the back. Neither were wearing a helmet. It came to a sudden stop. When Smith got off the bike he was unsteady on his feet, so police followed him into the fast food restaurant.”
The court heard jobless Smith had taken his step-mum’s mobility e-scooter after getting hungry following a night of heavy drinking. Sam Lamsdale, defending, said: “It wasn't an e-scooter often driven by people of his age, but his step-mother's mobility aid bike he had permission to drive.
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“The vehicle had no number plates but if it had he would have realised driving it on roads after drinking alcohol would mean he was committing an offence. If he had realised it was a criminal offence he wouldn't have parked next to a marked police vehicle.
"This is a young man who has never been in trouble before.”
Smith was offered the chance to take a drink-drive awareness course which, if he successfully completes, will reduce the ban length. Mr Lamsdale said Smith was hoping to train as a soldier.
Chairman of the bench Chris Mitchell said: "If you are going to join the army you need to think about your actions."
