On-duty Uber driver caught drink-driving in Newcastle after 'pouring something into water bottle'https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... k-33324024
An on-duty cabbie was spotted pouring something into a water bottle while behind the wheel before being caught drink-driving. Jagdev Multani didn't have passengers in his taxi when he was pulled over in Newcastle City Centre but was working as an Uber driver.
A court heard that police suspected it was alcohol that the 45-year-old had poured into his water bottle and subsequently consumed, so decided to breath test him, which he failed. He was arrested and later gave a reading of 132mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood when the legal limit is 80mg.
Father-of-three Multani, of Southmead Avenue, in Blakelaw, has now lost his job and been banned from the roads for 15 months after he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. Emily Hunt, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said officers spotted Multani travelling in a blue Skoda along Westgate Road towards St James Boulevard on July 20 last year.
She added: "The vehicle's registration had been circulated earlier indicating that the driver was in a taxi and had been seen to pour something into a water bottle and consume it. The defendant was pulled over and put in the rear of the police vehicle."
The court heard that the breath test machine was malfunctioning, so a sample of Multani's blood was taken and sent off for analysis, which proved he was over the limit. John Brown, defending, said Multani had no past convictions, had pleaded guilty and had lost his job.
The solicitor added: "He's aware that he was working as a taxi driver at the time and he was over the limit but he had no passengers at the time and there was no concerns about his manner of driving." Multani was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
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