MP fined £200 for drink-drive offence

MP fined £200 for drink-drive offence

Geoffrey Robinson, Labour MP for Coventry North West, was yesterday ordered to pay £650 in driving fines and costs by magistrates at Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Robinson, aged, 46, of The Orchards. near Godalming, Surrey, was fined £200 and had his licence endorsed with 10 penalty points for being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink, which he had denied.

He admitted refusing a breath test after his arrest last December, and not displaying lights on the hard shoulder of the M6. The court was told that Robinson, who had been to a Christmas party, was unable to walk properly after being arrested. His speech was slurred and he was talkative but incoherent.

A motorway patrolman, Police Constable Terence Harris. told the court that he found Robinson's Daimler parked on the hard shoulder of the southbound M6 near the Corley service area in Warwickshire. Part of the driver's side of the vehicle protruded on to the slow lane and Robinson was asleep in the fully-reclined passenger seat. PC Harris said that he had difficulty waking Robinson and at first feared he might be seriously ill.

"He was incoherent. His speech was slurred and I could smell drink on his breath."

Robinson was unstable on his feet and had to be helped into a police vehicle after his arrest, the officer said. He later told the police: "I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought it was a layby."