Taxi driver was over the limit

A TAVISTOCK taxi driver was caught while being three times over the drink-drive limit, a court heard. Police said that Victor Batt, aged 62, was arrested after dropping off a passenger near the town and then drove away in what they called a ?dangerous and erratic? manner. Officers then breathalised Batt outside his Whitchurch home and found he had 113 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. Plymouth magistrates heard that Batt was unsteady on his feet and smelt of alcohol. Batt admitted drink-driving last Wednesday when he appeared before the court. Magistrates banned Batt from driving for two years and ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work and pay costs of £32. The prosecuting solicitor said police stopped Batt at the wheel of a grey Citroen C5 near his home at Gate Cottage on an unclassified lane at 5.30pm on Wednesday. She added: ?As they approached Batt it became clear that he was unsteady on his feet and his breath smelt of intoxicants.? Richard Spear, defending, said Batt was a self-employed taxi driver who had been driving for 40 years. Batt had a clean licence for the last ?10 or 15 years? and had been a taxi driver for the last four years. He added that Batt was not involved in any crash and he was not carrying a passenger when he was stopped by police who were ?acting on information received?. Mr Spear said Batt had a row with his wife earlier in the week and he was drinking on Wednesday afternoon as a result. They were due to fly to Spain on the day of the court hearing but his wife has now gone on her own. Mr Spear added the conviction was probably ?the last straw? for the marriage and said that Batt ?experienced remorse? for his actions. A spokesman for West Devon Borough Council confirmed Butt was registered as a driver, holding a licence which allows him to work as a private hire or hackney carriage driver. He said Batt was obliged to inform the council of the conviction and a licensing panel could decide to refuse the licence above and beyond his legal driving ban.