A DRINK driver has been prosecuted after dialling into court from his car.

John Morgan was arrested on August 29 this year on Holes Lane in Woolston after he was found to be over the limit when pulled over by police.

The 31-year-old, from Swindon, was due to appear at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, September 29.

Warrington Guardian:

Chester Magistrates Court

But he was unable to attend the hearing and ask the court if he could phone the court from his car, which was being driven by a relative in Wiltshire.

Morgan was allowed to do so and admitted drink driving while stopped in a lay-by.

He was banned from driving for three years, fined £120 and told to pay £85 court costs plus a £34 victim surcharge.

Crown Prosecution Service Mersey Cheshire lawyer Andrew Page said: “I was conducting the prosecution via the cloud video platform system from my home on Merseyside.

“The defendant John Morgan rang the court to say he couldn’t get there in person, but could do it from where he was via his phone.

“He was in his car which was being driven by a relative – he asked if the court could call him and he would be happy to ask her to pull over and he could appear in court from the car.

Warrington Guardian:

Andrew Page

“We reached a convenient point, so the court rang him and his relative pulled over in a lay-by near Swindon.

“He turned his phone on, joined the court link and appeared on all of our screens from his car – he pleaded guilty, was sentenced and went on his way.

“It was surely the ultimate in remotely prosecuted cases.

“It’s certainly unique in my experience.”