Drink driver sped away after mistaking police car for a boy racer (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Drink driver sped after mistaking police car for a boy racer in Sedgefield

2:20pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Duncan Leatherdale

A SALES director who sped away from a police car because he feared it was a boy racer has been banned from driving for 17 months after admitting drink-driving.

Michael Alan Bowman from Mordon was found to have 74mcg of alcohol in 100mll of breath, magistrates in Newton Aycliffe were told - the legal limit is 35mcg.

Prosecutor John Garside said police spotted Bowman’s VW golf driving at speed at about 10.40pm on February 23 along the 60mph road between Sedgefield and Bradbury.

Officers followed the car and reached speeds of 90mph before they turned on their blue lights and pulled Bowman over, the court heard.

Lawrence Petterson in mitigation said Bowman had driven fast to get away from the police car as he believed it to be a boy racer.

Mr Petterson said Bowman saw the police car’s headlights pull up close behind him but did not realise it was a patrol car.

Bowman, a sales director, had been for an Indian meal in Sedgefield and had drunk four pints of lager over the course of the evening, the court heard.

He intended to get a taxi home but decided to drive when he could not find one, Mr Petterson said.

The solicitor said Bowman, who has four children, felt fine to drive.

Mr Petterson said: “He fully regrets driving and has expressed deep remorse.”

Magistrates ordered Bowman, 36, of Low Green, to pay £635 in fines and costs and banned him from driving for 17 months, although that would be reduced if he completes a drink driver rehabilitation scheme.