John Staunton, from Rochdale, was caught almost three times over the alcohol limit
A Mercedes driver who was caught almost three times over the alcohol limit has claimed he is teetotal and mistakenly downed four pints of vodka mix thinking it was lemonade.
John Staunton, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, said he assumed the drink he had been given at a party was alcohol free - but several hours later police found him slumped over the wheel of his car.
The 57-year-old was so drunk he could barely speak or unlock the driver's side door and began 'flailing his arms' when asked to produce his driving licence and take a breath test.
The father-of-two, who claims to have been abstinent for ten years, initially failed to provide two roadside tests but later at the police station he blew 102 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Staunton, who said he had no recollection of the night and 'woke up in the police station', urged JPs at Tameside Magistrates Court not to ban him from driving - claiming he had not 'knowingly' drunk alcohol.
He was spared imprisonment but was instead disqualified for two years and ordered to be electronically tagged for four months as part of a 6pm-6am curfew.
Staunton was also ordered to pay £495 in costs and surcharges.
The incident occurred at 12.15am on February 10 after police spotted Staunton's Mercedes stopped in a filter lane near a roundabout.
In a statement one of the officers named only as PC Ryhan said: 'It was causing an obstruction and I pulled up to the side of the vehicle to speak to the driver.
'I originally thought it was broken down and I saw a white male and loud music was coming out of the car.
'I shouted to the driver to put the window down but he didn't respond at first so I got out of the car and tapped on the driver's window. The male appeared intoxicated and confused, and I asked him to open his door.
'The driver started looking around for the unlock button and I then heard the music coming from the car getting louder.
Staunton, who said he had no recollection of the night and 'woke up in the police station', urged JPs at Tameside Magistrates Court (pictured) not to ban him from driving - claiming he had not 'knowingly' drunk alcohol
'After asking a few more times, and tapping on the window to unlock the door, the driver finally found the unlock button opened the vehicle door, and I could smell alcohol.
'I turned the vehicle off and the driver was
