Drunk driver caught as he picked up arrested friend at Newcastle police station

A drunk driver was caught after pulling up outside a police station to pick up an arrested friend.

Michael Logue was initially thought to be a taxi driver when he was spotted in his Ford Puma outside Forth Banks station in Newcastle.

When an officer approached him, it soon became apparent he was drunk and he was asked to switch his car's engine off.

A court heard that the 41-year-old immediately began to reverse in a bid to make off but was stopped when the constable stood in his path. Logue then repeatedly refused to get out the car until back-up officers arrived and he was taken inside the police station and arrested.

Logue, of Yewvale Road, in Blakelaw, Newcastle, has now been banned from the roads for 36 months after he clocked up his second drink driving offence in seven years when he pleaded guilty at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.

Prosecutor, Clare Irving, said Logue pulled up outside Forth Banks on 11 March and immediately caught the attention of an officer, who was coming off duty and leaving the building. Ms Irving continued: "The officer asked if the defendant was looking for someone.

"The defendant said 'I'm here to fetch my mate, he has been locked up'. The officer leaned further into the car and turned the radio down. The defendant said 'I will f*** off'.

"The officer told the defendant to get out the car and turn the engine off. The officer shouted for assistance and went to approach the vehicle and the defendant began to reverse out the parking bay in an attempt to make off. The officer ran in front of the vehicle and shouted at the defendant to stop."

Magistrates were told that Logue did stop but refused to get out of the vehicle until further officers arrived. He was taken inside the police station, where he failed a breath test, giving a reading of 94mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when the legal limit is 35.

Kash Khan, defending, said Logue had not intended on driving until his friend was arrested. Mr Khan added: "Mr Logue had parked up in the city centre and he wasn't going to drive that night. However, because of what happened with his friend, he needed to get to the police station as quickly as possible."

As well as the ban, Logue was given a 12-month community order and must do 120 hours of unpaid work.