A motorist was so drunk he pulled into a petrol station and offered to pay for fuel despite not having filled up, a court heard.
Boozy Paul Hastings, 45, was almost four times the legal drink drive limit when he stopped at a garage.
Hastings, a company director, walked in and tried to pay for petrol – even though he hadn’t put any in his car.
He then stumbled across the forecourt and nearly smashed into other motorists who were trying to fill up.
Married dad-of-two Hastings recorded a breath test reading of 136mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – well above the legal limit of 35mcg.
Hastings, of Hebburn, Tyne And Wear, admitted drink driving and was given a nine-week suspended prison sentence and banned from driving for two years eight months.
Glenda Beck, prosecuting, told South Tyneside Magistrates Court the incident happened at 6.30pm on December 10.
She said: “Police were called about a possible drink driver at a garage after the cashier said a man had entered and asked to pay for some fuel.
“The till showed that no fuel had been drawn from a pump and the man was showing signs of drunkenness.
“When he was told he had not taken any fuel, he left the station store and went back to his Volkswagen Golf vehicle.
“He was walking back and forth and was unsteady on his feet. When he got in his car to drive to the right pump, he nearly collided with other cars on the forecourt.
“Police attended and he was arrested.”
Ian Cruickshank, defending, said: “We have a wholly exceptional set of circumstances which are never to be repeated.”
Hastings was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of ?85 and a victim surcharge of ?80.
