Elswick drink-driver had open can of lager in car and broken brake lights
Hama Rasul, who has a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol, first came to the attention of police for travelling too slowly and failing to navigate a roundabout in Newcastle's West End
by Sara Nichol · ChronicleLiveA drink-driver was found to have an open can of lager in a cupholder in his car and broken brake lights when he was pulled over in Newcastle.
Hama Rasul, who has a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol, first came to the attention of police as he travelled way below the speed limit and failed to navigate a roundabout in the city's West End. A court heard that the dad-of-two had been out socialising with friends when he made the "foolish" decision to get behind the wheel of his Nissan Micra.
Rasul, of Arden Crescent, in Elswick, was pulled over when patrolling officers noticed his excessively slow speed, defective brake lights and his difficulty travelling around a roundabout. The 45-year-old was arrested and charged with driving with excess alcohol, which he pleaded guilty to when he appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.
Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said police first spotted Rasul's vehicle on the West Road at around 1.15am on September 8 this year. Mr Davies continued: "The defendant's Nissan Micra was travelling very slowly, well below the speed limit for that road, and it's brake lights were defective and it seemed to struggle to navigate roundabout as it turned onto Two Ball Lonnen.
"The vehicle was stopped and there was an open can of Budweiser in the vehicle's cupholder." The court heard that Rasul failed a roadside breath test, later giving a reading of 60mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is 35mcg.
Mr Davies said Rasul faced a mandatory three-year ban as it was his second drink-driving offence in four years. Matthew Purves, defending, said Rasul would now struggle to get to work as he lived in Newcastle and worked at a fruit and vegetable store in Sunderland.
Mr Purves added: "There's no wonderful explanation about this. He didn't really think about having a few drinks with friends locally and thinking he was ok to drive home. He should have known better having a previous conviction."
Magistrates fined Rasul £390 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £156 victim surcharge. He was also banned from the roads for three years.
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