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Ex-judge fined for drink-driving 'Broken' judge fined for drink-driving
(about 1 hour later)
A former crown court judge who was stopped on the M6 while nearly three times over the legal alcohol limit has been fined £1,200.A former crown court judge who was stopped on the M6 while nearly three times over the legal alcohol limit has been fined £1,200.
Officers pulled over Bruce Macmillan, 63, near Chorley when they spotted him driving erratically on 27 August.Officers pulled over Bruce Macmillan, 63, near Chorley when they spotted him driving erratically on 27 August.
Macmillan, who has admitted drinking and driving, was also arrested three weeks later when police found him drunk in charge of his car. Macmillan, who admitted drinking and driving, was arrested again three weeks later when police found him drunk in charge of his car.
He was also banned from driving for two years at Chorley Magistrates' Court. The court heard he was a "broken man" whose life had gone "badly wrong".
The 63-year-old, from Aigburth on Merseyside, was now a "broken man" after his life had gone "badly wrong", the court heard. Macmillan, from Aigburth on Merseyside, was also banned from driving for two years at Chorley Magistrates' Court.
Macmillan was first called to the bar 40 years ago and served as a circuit judge, with "perfect distinction", for 16 years. Bottles of spirits
He resigned from his £128,000-a-year job in September, a week before he pleaded guilty to drink-driving on the motorway in Lancashire. He was first called to the bar 40 years ago and served as a circuit judge, with "perfect distinction", for 16 years.
He admitted his second offence of being drunk in charge of a car in Toxteth, Liverpool, before Chorley Magistrates' Court, during the same hearing that he was sentenced. But he resigned from his £128,000-a-year job in September, a week before he pleaded guilty to drink-driving on the motorway in Lancashire.
Missing person He admitted his second offence of being drunk in charge of a car in Toxteth, Liverpool, before Chorley Magistrates' Court, during the same hearing at which he was sentenced.
He accepts at that point his career was ruined. He was a broken man immediately Stuart Driver QC, defending
On both occasions, he was found with half a bottle of spirits in his car, vodka on the first occasion and gin on the second.On both occasions, he was found with half a bottle of spirits in his car, vodka on the first occasion and gin on the second.
After being stopped on the M6 in August, Macmillan said: "I've not had a drink today, officer."After being stopped on the M6 in August, Macmillan said: "I've not had a drink today, officer."
Despite his claims, he was found nearly three times over the limit, during a test at Leyland police station. But tests confirmed him as being three times over the limit and he was charged
He was charged and bailed the same day but three weeks later, on 17 September, police were called by his wife who awoke to find him not at home. Three weeks later police were called by his wife who awoke to find him not at home.
She was so concerned for his welfare, the court heard, she reported him as a missing person. She was so concerned she reported him as a missing, the court heard.
A little before midday, officers found him asleep behind the wheel of his car with the keys in the ignition, in Hill Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, with a half-empty bottle of gin and three times over the limit. 'Cracked under strain'
He handed over his driving licence and sat in the dock, head bowed, as his lawyer, Stuart Driver QC, explained his "fall from grace". Officers found him asleep behind the wheel of his car with the keys in the ignition, in Hill Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, with a half-empty bottle of gin.
Stuart Driver QC, told the court that Macmillan had not been able to cope with the pressures of the job and had taken time off work for stress.
In August when, he was first arrested, he had "cracked under the strain", the court heard.
Mr Driver said: "He accepts at that point his career was ruined. He was a broken man immediately."
The magistrates said they were impressed by the self-help Macmillan had sought, as he is currently attending a rehabilitation course for alcoholics.
He was also ordered to pay costs and a victim's surcharge penalty totalling £175.