Sunderland drink-driver back in court for ignoring three-year road ban
A Sunderland road menace has been hauled into court after being caught drink-driving – just months into a three-year ban for the same crime.
Michael Baker, 37, got behind the wheel of a Mercedes C Class motor on Monday, July 6, even though he was disqualified and had no insurance.
Jobless Baker was pulled over in his home highway of Rotherfield Road, Hylton Red House, where a breath test showed he was almost twice the drink-drive limit.
Further checks revealed he had been handed a lengthy road disqualification in October last year for drink-driving.
It was a second qualifying offence in 10 years, following an initial conviction for failing to provide a sample for analysis in July 2018.
At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, Baker pleaded guilty to charges of driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
Magistrates adjourned his case for reports, telling him they were concerned about his inability to heed the law.
Prosecutor Syed Ali said: “An officer has provided a statement and tells that while on duty, he had cause to stop a vehicle which was driving erratically.
“However, he gives no further details, he just says that it was being driven erratically.
“When spoken to, the defendant was unsteady on his feet and had slurred speech.
“Due to his behaviour, the officer was suspicious that the defendant was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“Further checks were made, and it was found he wasn’t insured to drive and that he was disqualified until October 20, 2028. That was for a similar matter in October 2025.”
Baker gave a reading for alcohol in breath of 61mcg. The legal limit is 35mcg.
Alastair Naismith, defending, said: “This excess alcohol carries a minimum three-year disqualification but the driving while disqualified is probably more serious on balance.
“He’s lost his work and is not claiming benefits yet and is living at home with his parents.”
Magistrates handed Baker an interim ban, ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned his case to the same court on Tuesday, August 18.
Clinton Leeks, chair of the bench, told him: “There’s a lot of driving going on that shouldn’t be going on, and that concerns us.”