AN asylum seeker who got behind the wheel the morning after the night before was already banned from driving.
Burnley magistrates heard how father-of-three Milan Scuka, 28, wasn't insured but the Czech national believed insurance was voluntary in England like it was in his home country.
Scuka, of Rakeshouse Road, Nelson, was fined £250, with £40 costs and banned from driving for 18 months, after admitting driving with excess alcohol, not having insurance and driving while disqualified.
Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said police pulled up behind the defendant and stopped him at 9.05am in Nelson.
They noticed his breath smelled of drink and the lower of two police station tests showed 65 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
John Rusius, defending, said Scuka, an asylum seeker had been in this country since 1999 and was here with his partner and three children. He understood he could drive in England without insurance, as he could in his home country.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article