A FORMER security guard was spotted by an off-duty police officer buying a bottle of rum before stumbling back into his car and driving off.
The officer had noticed 35-year-old Darran James McMurty using the counter to support himself at the checkout of the 24-hour ASDA, Bromborough, just after midnight on March 12.
Prosecuting at Chester and Ellesmere Port Magistrates Court on Friday, Anoushka Youds described how McMurty, of Crescent Road, Ellesmere Port, was then followed by the officer as he drove along the A41 toward Eastham.
McMurty then joined the M53 and headed in the direction of Ellesmere Port town centre, coming to a stop outside his home address. The police officer alerted her colleagues and McMurty was arrested after providing a positive breath test.
A further test at Blacon Police Station showed he had 74 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, compared to the legal limit of 35mg.
A small amount of cannabis resin was also found in his coat pocket.
McMurty pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal limit and possession of a Class B drug.
When questioned by police, McMurty said he’d been having drinks with friends at home when they had ran out of alcohol.
Defending, Chris Hunt said due to ASDA in Ellesmere Port not having a licence to sell alcohol, McMurty took the ‘less than bright decision to go to the other ASDA’.
Mr Hunt said: “Alcohol is, after all, meant to relax people and alter the way they look at things.”
He said McMurty had been drowning his sorrows after being temporarily suspended from his job.
Mr Hunt said: “As a result of his actions he’s now lost his employment permanently.
“For now, it’s him and his cat surviving on Job Seekers Allowance until he can find alternative employment.”
Magistrates disqualified McMurty from driving for 20 months, fined him £75 for possession of a Class B drug, a £15 victim surcharge, £100 for excess alcohol and £85 court costs.
