Fleet teen blamed drink driving on lobster

A BMW spotted veering from side to side in the road had a drink-driving Fleet teenager at the wheel.

Stewart Lee was stopped by police as he and his father returned from a pub meal on the West
Norfolk coast.

King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday that 19-year-old Lee “stumbled” away from the
car and admitted he’d had alcohol.

He was arrested after giving a positive roadside test.

In custody the defendant, of Old Main Road, blew 58 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving at about 1am on June 26.

Solicitor Lucinda Dore, mitigating, said the offence happened after her client’s father had a lobster thermidor meal which was “not up to scratch” and a complaint to staff “wasn’t taken very lightly”.

She added that the pair had planned to get a taxi home but were unable to get one.

“They then asked if they could stay the night. Their view is that because they had made a complaint, the staff made it difficult to stay.

“Because of that they decided to drive home.”

Ms Dore said her client helps run the Fleet touring park business which the family took over about a
year ago.

“He certainly didn’t intend to drive and made attempts to source a taxi and overnight stay,” she
added.

“His father is so upset. It’s going to have a huge impact on the family business.”

Lee was banned from driving for 14 months, which can be cut with completion of a drink-driver
rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £190 and told to pay £105 costs and £76 victim surcharge.