A PENSIONER with Alzheimer's has held on to his driving licence in spite of being caught more than two times over the limit when in charge of a car.

Sion Jair, of Larch Court, Ulverston, faced being disqualified from driving following the offence which took place on June 3.

However, magistrates exercised their discretionary power when it came to taking away the 66-year-old's licence, choosing instead to impose penalty points.

Prosecution solicitor, Lee Dacre, told Furness Magistrates' Court that on the day of the offence, Jair was discovered by police on patrol sitting inside his vehicle in Poplar Grove, with the keys in the ignition.

He was breathalysed and was found to have 73mg of alcohol per 100ml of his breath. The legal limit is 35mg per 100ml.

Jair, who pleaded guilty to the offence, lives with Alzheimer's disease and travels to the Lake District daily in order to fell walk.

Defence solicitor Andy Gallagher said this exercise had slowed the prevention of his client's condition, and asked magistrates not to take away his licence.

Mr Gallagher said: "The defendant said he had one drink, clearly this is not the case given the reading. He told me the drinking was earlier in the evening when he had half a pint in the pub."

He continued by telling the court Jair intended to go home but became involved in a dispute after leaving the pub. Because of this, he decided to drive to his partner's house.

According to Mr Gallagher this was to "make sure his partner was safe."

For being in charge of a vehicle when over the limit, Jair was sentenced to have his licence endorsed with 10 penalty points.

He was also fined £200, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £35, and pay court costs of £85.
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