Man drunk in charge of a skateboard

A MAN faces a possible driving ban after he was found guilty of being drunk while in control of a motorised skateboard.

Martin Jones, 25, a businessman from Swindon, Wiltshire, had been drinking with friends before using his Go-Ped machine to go to a party.

Police saw him weaving across a pavement in the town, sending pedestrians scattering, and pulled him in, Cedric Allen, for the prosecution, told Swindon magistrates yesterday. They shouted at him to stop, but he turned around and disappeared, said Mr Allen.

They saw him again later and were able to stop him. Jones was found to be nearly twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Jones told the court that he had been stopped six times previously by police. But they had let him go after finding out he did not need a licence to ride his Go-Ped - which has a top speed of 20mph - on the road.

He said: "When I bought the Go-Ped I made inquiries about its legal status. A work colleague who is also a special police constable said that there was no law about using it. I bought it because I wanted a toy for a laugh, but also to get about on during the summer. I didn't need a driving licence for it and just didn't think."

During the hearing, the magistrates asked Jones to demonstrate the Go- Ped - which is worth pounds 560 - in the car park at the back of the court.

After 40 minutes of deliberations, they found him guilty of driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol above the limit on 13 February this year.

Jones was also found guilty of driving without consideration for others on the same date.

Gwen Simon, the magistrates' chairwoman, told him he could face a driving ban.

She adjourned the case until a week tomorrow for his solicitor to prepare legal arguments against disqualification.