POLICE caught a drunken motorist driving erratically – on his pal's mobility scooter, a court heard.

Andrew Gorman was spotted by a police officer swerving around on St Helens Road, Bolton Magistrates was told.

The 30-year-old had been drinking with friends at a house when one of the group asked if he would go to the shop to buy some cigarettes – and offered him the use of his scooter. But magistrates heard that when he returned to the house, his friends had left.

After spotting Gorman at about 10.40pm on August 14, the police officer followed and pulled him over, at which point Gorman claimed he had done nothing wrong and said he had permission to use the scooter.

The officer had to take Gorman to the floor and restrain him.

Gorman said that rather than leave the scooter at the house for the owner to retrieve, he decided to take it home with him.

He was taken to the police station where he refused to provide a sample, after being suspected of drink driving.

Prosecuting, Alan Bakker said Gorman was “incomprehensible” while in the station, and that he was slurring his words.

Mr Bakker said: “The defendant was less than co-operative, and was under the impression that he had not done anything wrong.”

He added: “The owner of the mobility scooter is known to the defendant, and on the evening in question they had been drinking together.

“He didn’t report it as stolen until the day after when the defendant was arrested, despite emphasising how important it was to his life in a statement.”

The court heard that Gorman is well known to police officers in Bolton, having 141 offences to his name and 72 convictions.

Mr Bakker added: “He is very, very well known to the police. Officers referred to him as Andrew, rather than Mr Gorman. They have dealt with him on countless occasions.”

Defending, Adam Whittaker, said: “He knows he has been silly, but drink played a major part in his conduct at the police station.”

Gorman, of Fern Street, Deane, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to provide a specimen while in charge of a vehicle, and a charge of taking a vehicle without consent will lie on file.

He received an eight week suspended prison sentence in June for two counts of shoplifting, and that sentence was activated by magistrates.

Gorman was also banned from driving for 18 months, despite him not having a driving licence.

Magistrate Richard Morgan said: “It is a serious matter, driving this vehicle, albeit a mobility scooter, but nevertheless it was a vehicle.”

He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and a criminal courts charge of £150, which have been added to his outstanding court bill of £1,400.