A police crime scene expert’s career was wrecked after he was caught drink-driving for the second time, a court heard.
Christopher John Pearson, 32, was banned from driving for 40 months when he was found to be more than twice the legal limit.
The dad-of-one, of St George’s Street, Macclesfield, quit his post with the Metropolitan Police Force the same day he was arrested.
Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, told Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court that police on patrol pulled over Pearson’s Peugeot in Macclesfield in the early hours of Monday, July 29.
She said: “Officers spotted the car on Ivy Lane and saw it swerve for no apparent reason.
“They followed it on to Chester Road and pulled over the driver. A breathalyser reading was 88mg. The legal limit is 35.”
Jenny Fields, defending, said Pearson was ashamed of his actions.
He had been drinking the night before and went to bed.
“When he woke up, he didn’t realise what time it was. Knowing he had a long drive ahead, he went to the patrol station to fill up his car and buy some cigarettes. He was stopped on his way home. He was clearly more intoxicated than he thought.
“He handed in his notice the day he was arrested.”
The court heard that Pearson was educated at Cambridge University before securing a job at the Metropolitan Police as a crime scene examiner.
Mrs Fields said: “The defendant was convicted of a previous drink-driving offence within the last 10 years but allowed to keep his job. His wife is an orthopaedic surgeon and they have recently moved to Macclesfield.
He was commuting to and from Wembley in London. This put quite a lot of pressure on him and he began to drink more than normally.
“He recognises he has a problem. He is now a stay-at-home father.”
Pearson admitted drink driving at Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court.
He was banned from driving for 40 months and fined £400.
