A Birmingham driver admitted to police that he was 'f***** off his head' as he attempted to put the keys into the ignition of his car following a night out, a court has heard.
Joseph Bunting, 20, was discovered trying to start his Seat Leon while sitting in the driver's seat on Berkley Street, just off the popular Broad Street nightspot, on April 19 this year.
The defendant, of Woodbine Croft, Birmingham, was slurring his speech when police patrolling the area came across him. He was told he was 'very fortunate' that officers intervened before he could insert the keys into the ignition.
At Birmingham Magistrates' Court this week, Bunting pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle. Prosecutor Charmaine Robinson told the court: "PCs were on night time economy patrols in Broad Street. The defendant was found in the driver's side attempting to insert keys into the ignition. He had slurred speech consistent with alcohol and said to them, 'I'm f***** off my head.'"
Bunting was arrested after breath tests revealed he was almost twice over the legal limit, with a reading of 67 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the lowest reading being 58mcg. He is a man of good character with no previous convictions and did not wish to speak in his defence.
The chair of the magistrates addressed Bunting, saying: "I think you are very, very fortunate that the police got to you before you put them into the ignition because the tendency would be to drive off. Fortunately you are facing the lesser charge. I'm going to deal with this by way of points to your licence."
Bunting was handed 10 penalty points on his driving licence and warned that reaching 12 points could result in disqualification. The chair noted that the DVLA may still decide to revoke his licence as he is a relatively new driver. He was also ordered to pay a total of £515 to the court.
