A DRINK-DRIVER, who had the highest alcohol reading a longserving magistrate had seen in his career, could face jail.

Shaune Glancey was nearly four times the legal limit while riding an off-road motorcycle along a Darlington road when he was stopped by police.

Glancey pleaded guilty at Darlington Magistrates’ Court today to drink-driving, driving without a licence and insurance and failing to stop for police.

The court heard how the 26- year-old, of Eastmount Road, Darlington, was spotted by police in North Road riding the motorcycle at about 11.20pm on June 24.

David Maddison, prosecuting, said the bike did not have any lights fitted and police decided to follow it.

It turned into Longfield Road and police activated their blue lights and sirens.

However, Glancey failed to stop and kept on riding the bike.

Mr Maddison said: “They followed behind him for a short time.

“He was turning around and looking directly at the police.

“He continued towards Whessoe Road. Police pulled alongside him and he pulled over to the curb and stopped.”

In an interview, Glancey told officers that he intended to get onto a nearby black path and ride off-road to evade his pursuers.

When he was breathalysed, he gave a reading of 138 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, almost four times the legal limit.

John Hardesty, mitigating, said Glancey had been at his brother’s home where the bike was kept in a shed.

Over the course of the day he had consumed a large amount of alcohol. He then had a call from a friend in Branksome and took the bike to go and see him.

Mr Hardesty said his client lived on a disability allowance after falling while working as a roofer.

The accident left him partially deaf and he sustained a fractured skull. Glancey had not worked since.

Magistrates adjourned the case until Wednesday so a pre-sentence report could be made.

The chairman of the bench, Leslie Abbott, said the alcohol reading was so high a prison sentence could not be ruled out.

He added: “That’s just about the highest reading I’ve ever had in front of me in 16 years as a magistrate.”