A SICK pensioner who became ‘stressed’ during lockdown was caught weaving all over the road near Worcester after driving home after a fishing trip. Graham Jackson, of Park Heath, Hallow, told a court he panicked after finding blood in his urine, deciding to drive home rather than get a lift.

The 71-year-old could not provide a breath sample at the roadside or at the station because of a lung condition but when police took a blood sample he was more than twice the limit.

The pensioner was pulled over because he was swerving all over the A443 at Hallow in his Ford Fiesta.

He admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester last Thursday.

Jackson was pulled over at 9.15pm on July 24 this year as he drove between Grimley and Hallow.

Peter Love, prosecuting, said: “The Fiesta drew the attention of officers because it was weaving across the road from the kerb to the centre of the road and back again.”

Because he was unable to provide a breath sample he was arrested and could not provide an evidential sample at the station either.

“He told the police he had COPD. Instead of relying on breath they took a blood sample,” said Mr Love.

The reading was 184mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, more than twice the limit of 80mg. Jackson pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.

Mr Love said Jackson had ‘next to nothing on his record’ other than an old disqualification for drink driving from 1999 and three penalty points on his licence for speeding from August 26 last year.

Jackson, who represented himself, told magistrates he had been fishing that day.

“After all the lockdown and everything I was under a lot of stress” he said. After the trip he went to see a friend of his, a former policeman who was ill, and drank three or four pints. However, he said the night before his son had taken him out and he ‘did have a good drink’.

He said when he went to the toilets to empty his colostomy bag it was ‘full of blood’. As a result he said he ‘panicked a bit’ and decided to drive home. He said: “When I got to the police station he (the officer) took me to to the toilet. He said ‘what the hell is that?’ I said ‘it’s blood in my urine – I need to see my doctor,’” he said.

The defendant told magistrates the doctor later told him it was a bad water infection and he was prescribed antibiotics.

Jackson told the bench he had not driven his car since he was pulled over and would now sell the car.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 20 months, fined him £247, ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and costs of £85.

He was offered the drink drivers rehabilitation course. If he completes the course successfully by December 21 next year his ban will end on February 21, 2022. If he does not complete the ban will end on July 11, 2022.