A WIND farm worker caught drink-driving in North Wales made a stupid throw-away remark which meant he was remanded in custody to appear before a court, his lawyer said.

Stephen Mullarkey said his client Barry James Griezans had said “if I could have a noose” while in the police station.

He had not realised that quite properly police would have to take it seriously and he was remanded in custody to appear before the court for his own welfare.

Griezans, 36, from Lancashire but who stayed at Flintshire while working on a wind farm, admitted he was almost twice the limit when he was stoppedby police because of the way his black BMW was being driven.

Griezans, a lifeboat volunteer in Blackpool, was disqualified from driving for three years after the court heard he had two previous similar convictions.

He was fined £840 with £85 costs and a £84 surcharge.

Prosecutor Rhian Jackson said that shortly before 7pm on Wednesday police saw him drive on the A5026 between Holywell and Bagillt. He was swerving and mounted the kerb.

When the blue lights were illuminated he braked heavily, mounted the kerb, and police saw him move from the driver’s seat into the passenger seat.

He provided a positive breath test and blew a reading at the police station of 68 microgrammes compared to the legal limit of 35.

Interviewed he said he panicked which was why he had jumped into the passenger seat.

Mr Mullarkey said at the police station he had made a stupid remark about a noose without realising that the police would have to take it seriously because of the consequences for them if they bailed someone who then committed suicide.

He wished to apologise for the trouble he had caused, Mr Mullarkey told North East Wales Magistrates Court at Mold.

Griezans, of Normoss Road in Blackpool, had previous drink-drive convictions in 2000 and 2015.

The court heard he worked two weeks on, in Mostyn, Flintshire, when he stayed in North Wales and two weeks off, when he returned to Blackpool.