A motorist who was caught driving when more than double the drink drive limit has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds.

Scott Cain was driving a Ford Transit van on Whippendell Road in Watford around midnight on May 1 when he drew the attention of police due to the manner of his driving.

St Albans Magistrates’ Court heard how the 31-year-old had been seen by officers making a wide turn around a corner and swerving between lanes.

The court was also told that he broke hard before a speed camera and had clipped kerbs.

Officers had requested to stop the vehicle and the defendant pulled over when he was signalled to do so.

Police smelt alcohol upon speaking to Cain, who had told officers that he was “not too good”.

He was later found to have recorded 77mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35mg.

Cain pleaded guilty to consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath exceeded the prescribed limit on Tuesday.

In mitigation, the court heard that Cain, of Burgundy Drive, Hemel Hempstead, realised he should not have been driving after drinking and that he needs his van for his job.

Being sentenced, Cain was ordered to pay a £450 fine, with costs amounting the total to £580. He was also disqualified from driving for 20 months.

A fundamental principle of justice is that it must be seen to be done. It is established in the UK that court cases should be heard in public. This principle of open justice is acclaimed on a number of grounds – as a safeguard against judicial error, as a deterrent to perjury, to assist the deterrent function of criminal trials and to permit the revelation of matters of public interest. 

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