Motorist caught drink driving just three weeks into a 40-month ban

A South Tyneside motoring menace who drove while drunk just three weeks into a 40-month ban has been spared jail by a judge who said her hands were tied.

- by Gareth Crickmer

District Judge Zoe Passfield told Paul McKay, 47, of Milton Street, Chichester, South Shields, his habitual offending was so serious it demanded an immediate prison term.

But she said imposing that would be unfair, after magistrates at McKay's initial hearing in June said they did not think his latest crimes merited that.

Standing before them, he pleaded guilty to charges of drink driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

They deferred sentence so he could work on his rehabilitation with the Probation Service—and he had engaged well, South Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard.

McKay, a mechanic, returned to the same court on Tuesday to be sentenced for those matters.

Judge Passfield appeared to express surprise when told by defence solicitor David Forrester of the decision made by the previous court.