A MOTORIST caught weaving along a road as he looked for a lay-by to sleep in was nearly three and a half times the drink drive limit.

Jason Baker, 37, of Hutchinson Street, Bishop Auckland, was spotted by police driving on the A689 at Rushyford, near to Newton Aycliffe, at 2am on August 3.

Prosecutor Anne Mitchell, told magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, that Baker’s van was seen to weave near to the road’s central white lines.

He gave a breath test reading of 113mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, with the limit being 35mg.

Jane Scott, mitigating, said Baker had argued with his wife after he had been drinking.

She said Baker had been asked to leave the house and so he had driven two miles looking for a place where he could sleep in his car.

Baker pleaded guilty to drink driving and also to one of breaching a 12-month conditional discharge imposed for a public order offence by committing the new crime.

Magistrates imposed a 36-month driving ban, a 12-month community order on Baker. He will also pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

No separate penalty was imposed for the conditional discharge breach.