MORNING-AFTER DRIVE BAN A motorist questioned by police after he parked on zig-zag lines at 9.30am was found to be well over the legal alcohol limit, Wirral Magistrates heard.

Tessa Hinder for 47-year-old Kevin Stephen Walsh of Poulton Road, Wallasey, said he had completely underestimated how much alcohol he had drank the previous evening. He was horrified at the amount he was still over.

Walsh pleaded guilty to drink-driving. He blew a reading of 92 microgrammes of alcohol. The limit is 35.

He was ordered to serve 40 hours of unpaid work. He had to pay £85 costs and was disqualified from driving for two years, which will be reduced by a quarter provided he completes a probation course offered to him.

------------------------------------------

UNSUCCESSFUL APPEAL When a 29-year-old man faced Wirral Magistrates for burglary and assault the court was told he had recently been given a 30-month prison term for robbery.

Gerry Pachter appearing for Michael Allan Atherton, of Hertford Drive, Wallasey, unsuccessfully appealed for the latest matters to be dealt with by way of a concurrent sentence.

Atherton was given an additional 18 weeks in custody.

He faced sentence for burglary and theft at the Hollingshey Hotel in Victoria Road, New Brighton, and on a different date, assault by beating.

------------------------------------------

SEVEN IN THE DOCK Seven accused appeared before Wirral Magistrates charged under the Public Order Act.

They were bailed for two weeks for committal proceedings with one of the defence lawyers asking for time to go through the papers in the case.

Christopher Robert Brady, 20, of Whetstone Lane; Brian John Hill, 26, of Beechwood; Nicholas Edward Jones, 18, of Ferns Road; Dale John Morris, 18, of Holt Road; John Patrick Rice, 38, of Claughton Road; Jamie Lee Rooke, 20, of New Chester Road and Natasha Amy Walker,20, of Rock Lane West, all Birkenhead, are charged with using or threatening violence in the Conway Street and Argyle Street area of the town in April.

Brady is additionally charged with possessing a knuckle duster.