A CARELESS driver was found to be more than three times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Further checks by police officers found that Arthur Simpkins was also uninsured and unlicenced to drive the car he was in.

The 70-year-old was subsequently charged with driving without due care and attention, drink-driving, driving without third-party insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He pleaded guilty to all charges at Warrington Magistrates’ Court at an earlier hearing, with the case adjourned before sentencing recently.

Nicola Parr, representing the prosecution in proceedings, told the court that all offences were committed on January 19.

Simkins was driving a blue Vauxhall Mokka on Poachers Lane in Latchford when he was stopped by police for driving without due care and attention.

A breath test was carried out, with the defendant producing a reading of 114 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of his breath.

This was more than three times the legal limit, which is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath.

Further checks by officers revealed that Simkins was behind the wheel otherwise than in accordance with a licence authorising him to drive a vehicle of that class.

That meant he was also driving without third-party insurance in place.

Magistrates took the defendant’s guilty pleas into account and concluded that the offences were serious enough to merit a community penalty.

Simpkins, of Poachers Lane, was sentenced to an 18-month community order, including six-month alcohol and mental health treatment requirements

He was also ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and disqualified from driving for 28 months, with his driving record endorsed.

Moreover, the court ordered him to pay a fine of £507, costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a statutory victim surcharge of £114.