A drink driver who entered a supermarket carpark at 3am got a Lidl surprise when he spotted police.
Owen Alexander Anderson then left the Lidl grounds abruptly but was then followed by officers who detected a drink driving offence in Portrush.
The 23-year-old of Dhu Varren Park in the town, was slightly over the limit, with a reading of 43 whereas the legal limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.
A prosecutor told Coleraine Magistrates Court the offence was detected on September 19 this year.
Police were on patrol in the Lidl carpark when a Ford Focus entered and whenever the PSNI was noticed by the driver the vehicle left but was followed and stopped.
The defendant turned down the chance to give a subsequent blood sample when his breath test was narrowly over the limit.
A defence lawyer said it was an “unfortunate case” and that the defendant had a couple of drinks earlier in the evening and thought he was ok to drive.
The lawyer said his client came to police attention because the car had a faulty tail-light.
He said the defendant was “only just” over the legal limit and he was offered a blood test but he did not accept the offer.
The lawyer said that could have given a lower reading.
The defendant, a part-time worker who is doing a construction course in Coleraine, was banned from driving for a year and fined £300.
