A MOTORIST being prosecuted for his third drink driving offence told magistrates in Carlisle: “It’s not like me.”

Eden Valley man Dominic Bitcon, 34, was caught after police received a tip-off from a member of the public who noticed that he appeared drunk and yet had driven away towards Penrith in his Land Rover.

The defendant, of Eamont Bridge, near Penrith, admitted drink driving and possessing a small amount of Class A cocaine. At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, prosecutor George Shelley outlined the facts.

He said that the police received the tip-off on the morning of April 29, having been told that the defendant was seen driving his Land Rover in Castlegate, Penrith, despite appearing drunk.

He was driving towards Penrith town centre.

“Two officers witnessed the vehicle in the town centre and stopped it,” said Mr Shelley.  Having spoken to Bitcon, the officers administered a roadside breath test, which produced a positive result for alcohol.

A later evidential test confirmed that the defendant had 96mcg of alcohol in every 100mls of breath. The legal limit for driving is 35mcg. The officers also searched him, finding a small plastic bag in his wallet, containing cocaine.

It was for his personal use.

The court heard that the defendant had two previous drink driving offences on his record – one from 2006, and then a second one three years later.

Addressing the court from the dock, Bitcon said: “I apologise. It was something ridiculous. It’s not like me. I keep myself to myself.

“That’s it. All I can say is sorry. I understand that I broke the law. I don’t even know why.”

He said he did not have an issue with alcohol.

Magistrates noted that the offences were committed during the currency of a suspended eight-week sentence which was imposed for breaching a restraining order, linked to his marriage breakdown.

But this was now resolved, he said.

The magistrates imposed a 12-month community order, which includes 100 hours of unpaid work and a one-year ban. They extended the suspension period of earlier eight-week sentence to 18 months.

Bitcon must pay £85 prosecution costs.