Published at 16:52, Wednesday, 15 August 2012

QUICK-THINKING shipyard staff helped catch a colleague who was three times the drink drive limit.

Malcolm Edward Jones, of Harrogate Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving when he appeared at Furness Magistrates’ Court.

Jones, 60, arrived at work on the morning of July 30 but failed a random breathalyser test at BAE Systems and was told to go home.

But he returned to work again at noon and was told to go home again. He then attempted to leave in his car.

Mrs Lisa Hine, prosecuting, said: “He was about to drive the vehicle off but was stopped from doing so by a colleague, Mr Hudson.

“He was told to return the following day and Mr Hudson watched the defendant walk towards the car. He then stopped the defendant who was sat in the car with the engine running.

“Mr Hudson says he opened the door and took the keys to stop the defendant driving any further.”

Jones then said he would phone a taxi. He got out of the car and his keys were returned.

Mrs Hine added: “Mr Hudson later looked out of the offices and the defendant got into the vehicle and before Mr Hudson could get to the car, he drove off.”

Mr Hudson then phoned the police who stopped Jones. When breathalysed his sample was found to contain 107mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35mg.

Jones had been suffering from sciatica and drank two glasses of wine in the early hours of July 30 to try to get to sleep. Jones told the court: “I had been suffering badly from sciatica but I know it’s not an excuse. I’d been struggling to sleep.

“I was not thinking rationally. I had too much to drink just to try and find sleep. I should know better at my age.”

Jones was ordered to pay £85 court costs, was disqualified from driving for 28 months and ordered to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work.

A statement from BAE Systems said: “As a responsible employer, BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines has a zero tolerance approach to the misuse of drugs and alcohol. In accordance with standard company policy, employees can be called at random, or where there is reason to believe an employee is under the influence, to undertake a routine drug and alcohol test.”

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk