Drunken driver handed jail warning

A drink driver who gave one of the highest breath test readings ever seen by a Black Country magistrates court has been warned he faces jail.

Mark Cooper was more than four times the legal limit when he was stopped by police who spotted his car swerving in Wolverhampton. The 48-year-old could not walk a straight line.

He struggled to keep his balance when pulled from the car, magistrates in Wolverhampton were told.

Mrs Magie Meakin, prosecuting, said police pulled Cooper over after seeing his Vauxhall Astra swerving in Moseley Road, near Bushbury, at 9.45pm on June 23.

When he was breathalysed at 11pm he was found to have 158 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Mrs Meakin added: "He was clearly intoxicated and when police asked him to walk away from the car he was staggering."

Cooper, of Waite Road, Portobello, who had never been in trouble before, admitted drink driving when he appeared at court yesterday.

Adjourning the case, district judge Michael Wheeler said: "It is one of the highest readings that has ever come before this court and for that I need reports before I can make a decision about you but I warn you, all options including custody will be kept open. There is a chance you could go to jail for this."

The case was adjourned to July 6 at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court.