EATING fish and chips while driving proved to be an expensive experience for pipe-fitter Michael Baker when he appeared in court.

The magistrates heard that 38-year-old Baker, of Bullfinch Drive, Bury, was, in fact, eating his fish and chips from his knees while driving his car on a busy Heywood road, and when he swerved he was spotted by a police patrol. The police stopped him and found he had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

Father-of-one Baker was banned from driving for 22 months, fined £200 and ordered to pay £50 costs, after he admitted drink driving in Bury New Road.

Baker claimed he had only had three bottles of pils lager and believed he was safe to drive but tests showed he had 91 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath which was just over two and a half times the limit.

Representing Baker, Mr Duncan Nightingale said his client did not think that what he had drunk would put him over the limit.

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