Drunk learner took car on motorway with no tyres

Off-duty officer spotted sparks flying from 24-year-old’s wheels on M65

A learner driver was caught driving drunk and without tyres on his car on a motorway after an off-duty policeman spotted sparks flying from his wheels.

Alex Oates, 24, from Burnley, was driving on the M65 in Lancashire when the officer saw sparks flying off his Fiat Punto, magistrates in Blackburn heard. He was more than twice over the legal alcohol limit.

Adam Bonney, prosecuting, said the officer, who was on his way home, called 999 and “watched as Oates got out and tried to push the car”.

According to the Lancashire Telegraph, uniformed officers arrived to breathalyse Oates, who failed the roadside test and gave a reading of 81 against the legal limit of 35 at the police station.

During his interview at the station, he said he had been drinking late and shots and “like a moron”, decided he was in a good enough state to drive home despite being a provisional license holder with no insurance to drive unaccompanied.

Oates pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, without insurance and other than in accordance with a license.

He was handed an 18-month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and 40 hours of unpaid work.