A STRUGGLING Grange farmer fled from police after they pulled him over on suspicion of drink driving.

James Robert Whitton, 40, was taking his girlfriend's car home after a day of boozing. He thought she was over the limit but believed he was OK to get behind the wheel, a court heard.

Prosecutor Mr Peter Kelly told Furness Magistrates' Court yesterday (18) how police received a tip-off at about 10.10pm on July 9 that there was a customer leaving the Swan Hotel, Newby Bridge, under the influence of alcohol who was going to drive.

"Later they watched as a man got into a grey Peugeot and went on to the A590 to the T-junction, then left for 100 metres before turning into a driveway.

"They followed for about 20 minutes and then flashed their lights for him to pull over. He ran off but was quickly detained by police and only got a short distance."

Whitton pleaded guilty to driving above the limit while having 43 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath at Newby Bridge. The limit is 35.

Brian Vickers, defending, said: "He offers his wholehearted apologies to his family, the court and the police.

"This is not the defendant's character to do something like this. He was over the limit but only slightly over. He simply didn't believe he was over the limit.

"He had had four pints of bitter between 2.30pm and 9pm and stopped drinking. It was about midnight when he left.

"The defendant is a farmer and he built up his farm and live stock from scratch over a decade.

"He has had difficulties on personal and professional levels.

"His daughter lives about four miles away now and he took an animal to the slaughterhouse and it was found to have a tumour.

"It was thought it was tuberculosis so he was unable to trade while this was checked. This caused massive financial difficulties and as a result, despite the test coming back negative, people will not trade with him.

"He has to spent between £5,000 and £10,000 a year for TB testing and is now running his business on borrowed money. This has had an absolutely devastating for the defendant.

"He has had the breakdown of his relationship, his business problems and to compound it he finds himself in this situation today.

"He accepts that this is a result of his own behaviour and will accept any sentence given."

Whitton, of Rockland Road, Grange, was fined £200 and told to pay £85 in court costs and a £35 victim surcharge.

He was banned from driving for 12 months.

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