AN American law professor who was banned from the road tried to drive away from a Carlisle Asda after knocking back booze he bought inside.

Daniel Behn was seen inside the Kingstown store at around 9.45am on February 20.

He was seen with a half-full bottle he hadn’t paid for. A security guard was concerned about how 47-year-old Behn had travelled to the supermarket.

Behn replied that he had driven. He paid for the drink, left the store and the security guard watched as he got into the driver’s seat of a Mercedes.

“The defendant consumed more alcohol,” prosecutor Andy Travis told Carlisle magistrates’ court.

Rear lights came on and Behn reversed several metres but when the security guard shouted at him to stop and park up, he did so.

“The guard removed the keys and waited for the police to arrive,” said Mr Travis.

Behn failed an initial breath test and a later reading showed 101mcg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath — almost three times the legal limit.

When questioned, American national Behn said he had been out of the UK between September and December last year, before returning in January.

The US licence holder spoke of making a 'bad choice' to drive.

When asked what his intention had been after leaving Asda, Behn replied: “To drink and pass out.”

He described previously being in Gretna, but said of his onward journey: “I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I’m heading to London eventually.”

Behn, of Purser Court, High Street, London, admitted driving and driving while disqualified having been banned by Staffordshire magistrates for 18 months in January 2021.

He had previously pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, having no insurance or MoT on July 15 last year in the same Mercedes on the M1 near Nottingham.

“A member of the public reported they had observed it swerving and nearly crashing into other vehicles,” said Mr Travis.

A man of previous good character, he had been cautioned for cocaine possession in October 2021.

Jeff Smith, defending, said a probation service pre-sentence report “puts meat on the bones” of “rather disturbing problems” faced by the defendant. He had a history of mental health issues.

“He was unable to receive the treatment he required. Alcohol became something of a crutch,” said Mr Smith.

“He apologises, through me, for his appearance in court today. He knows his behaviour was completely unacceptable.”

Magistrates imposed a two-year community order comprising 300 hours’ unpaid work and rehabilitation. He was handed a 28-month driving ban.

Behn teaches law at Queen Mary University of London.