Drink driver refused to stop

A drink driver who stole 24 cans of lager from a Willenhall supermarket refused to stop his car when chased by police, a court heard.

Nigel Lawrence appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to stealing the pack of lager from the Co-op in Short Heath.

The 27-year-old, from Sawmill Close, the Butts, also admitted drink driving, driving without insurance and failing to stop when directed to by police.

Mr Nick Baker, prosecuting, told how Lawrence stole the lager from the Co-op at around 4.20pm on May 3.

A staff member chased him out and saw him get into a grey van. A police car was in the vicinity and the member of staff alerted the officer.

Police pursued Lawrence and tried to get him to pull over but he failed to do so.

He eventually stopped in Bloxwich Lane. A breath test revealed he had 72 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, with the limit being 35.

Miss Nicky Mondair, defending, explained Lawrence was out of work at the time and made a "stupid decision".

He was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work and banned from driving for 20 months.

He was told to pay £30 in compensation to the supermarket and £60 costs.