Raymond Palmer, of Repton Drive, Haslington, Crewe, was discovered by police asleep in the driver’s seat (From Crewe Guardian)

Raymond Palmer, of Repton Drive, Haslington, Crewe, was discovered by police asleep in the driver’s seat

2:45pm Friday 27th January 2012 in News By Katie Durose

A PENSIONER found asleep in his car just weeks after being disqualified from driving has been handed a suspended jail sentence.

Raymond Palmer, of Repton Drive, Haslington, Crewe, was discovered by police asleep in the driver’s seat of his Jaguar at a car park in Old Mill Road, Sandbach.

He appeared at South Cheshire Magistrates Court on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to three charges of driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Prosecuting, Paul Davies told the court: “When the officer approached the car Mr Palmer was asleep, however the keys were still in the ignition and the engine was running.

“He told the officer he had driven to that location from Manchester but felt tired so decided to stop.

“A roadside breath test revealed 58mg of alcohol – the legal limit being 35mg.

“Checks were carried out which revealed Mr Palmer had been disqualified for drink driving in November. “ When taken to the police station in Middlewich, Mr Palmer refused to provide a urine and blood specimen because of a medical condition.

Defending, Stewart Bailey, said Mr Palmer had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and that he had forgotten about his disqualification.

He added: “His wife has suffered dramatically with Alzheimer’s and is in a home with Mr Palmer no longer able to look after her on his own.

“He was also diagnosed with the disease 18 months ago.

“He tells me that on the day in question he had driven to Manchester and admitted he was tired but he had completely forgotten about his disqualification in November “The vehicle has been sold s and he has resided to the fact that he should not be driving.

“At 69 this is only the second time Mr Palmer had appeared in court, and has only ever been in trouble in the last couple of months.”

Mr Palmer was sentenced to 12 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to pay £85 costs.

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