Trucker's 22-month ban after driving HGV from Northampton to Wellingborough nearly twice over the limit

Lorry spotted driving erratically by fellow motorists on A45
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Magistrates banned a trucker for 22 months after hearing he was nearly double the drink-drive limit behind the wheel of a HGV driving from Northampton to Wellingborough last month.

Londoner Derek Rouse was spotted driving erratically by fellow motorists on the A45, then stopped on a roundabout even though he had right of way and jolted his Volvo lorry trying to get going again.

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Police officers, who had tracked him from Earls Barton on November 4, finally pulled him over in the Finedon Road industrial estate in Wellingborough.

Rouse was driving a lorry from Northampton to Wellingborough when he was stopped last monthRouse was driving a lorry from Northampton to Wellingborough when he was stopped last month
Rouse was driving a lorry from Northampton to Wellingborough when he was stopped last month

Breath tests later revealed 66 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath — the limit is 35.

The court heard that Rouse, aged 54, of Mount Road, Mitcham, had a previous conviction for being drunk in charge of a vehicle in 2013. He pleaded guilty at Northampton Magistrates Court on Monday (December 6).

In addition to the ban, Rouse — who told the court he is now unemployed — was fined £120 and ordered to pay £119 in prosecution costs and a surcharge to fund victim services.