A LANCE corporal, who is being deployed to Afghanistan next month, was disqualified from driving on Monday after admitting being over the alcohol limit.
Peter Pankhurst, 30, was driving southbound on the A1 to see his parents at 12.30am on August 23 when he was stopped by police.
Daniel Pietryka, prosecuting, said: “He was said to be travelling at around 100mph.
“The vehicle was eventually stopped and the officers noticed that the driver was unsteady on his feet with glazed eyes.”
Pankhurst, who is based at Catterick Garrison, in Smuts Road, Catterick, said he was very sorry but the road was empty and this had effected his judgement. He recorded a reading of 56mcg in 100ml of breath, the limit is 35mcg.
Rory Macmillan, defending, said: “He drank a couple of pints before leaving on the journey but made the mistake of not eating before drinking.”
Magistrates gave Pankhurst a 12-month driving ban and fined him £360 plus £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.