A MAN who was fractionally over the drink drive limit was stopped by police after he swerved to avoid their van, a court has heard.

Darryl Edward Milburn told magistrates in Newton Aycliffe that the officers were in an unmarked van and he swerved to avoid clipping them.

Officers subsequently stopped Milburn in his Nissan Micra and found he was fractionally over the drink drive limit, the court heard.

Prosecutor Phil Morley said a urine test was conducted which found Milburn, 42, of Jubilee Road in Shildon, had 115mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine, the legal limit is 107mg.

Mr Morley said the officers spotted Milburn at about 3.45pm on February 2 pulling out of a side street onto Dale Road in Shildon.

He said Milburn seemed to be struggling to make the manoeuvre, nearly collided with a kerb and crossed the central white line so he was stopped.

Milburn, representing himself, accepted he had “one drink too many”, adding: “It was my fault.”

Magistrates ordered him to pay £170 in fines and costs and banned him from driving for 12 months.