Rainworth drink driver fled from the law

A Rainworth man was over the limit when he sped away from police, abandoned his car and discarded his keys, a court has heard.
Mansfield Magistrates Court.Mansfield Magistrates Court.
Mansfield Magistrates Court.

Benjamin Turner, 31, of Diamond Avenue, admitted driving with 48 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Ruth Snodin, prosecuting, said police followed Turner’s grey Audi on Southwell Lane, in Kirkby, in the early hours of May 14.

She said he drove off and abandoned his car on Sherwood Street, before officers eventually found him and recognised him as the driver, which he initially denied.

Lucy Whittaker, mitigating, said: “It’s not exactly clear why the police chose to follow him in the first place. There was nothing wrong with his driving.

“He was trying to find out why this car was following him and he increased his speed.”

The court heard he had an unrelated conviction from 2004, and nine points on his driving licence.

He was fined £600 and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified for 14 months.