A drink driver was pulled over when police saw him "travelling at speed" and on the wrong side of the road.
John Culyer had been out for a meal with his wife at her brother's house and had decided to walk home.
A court heard that the 39-year-old's partner set-off before him but hadn't arrived back at their North Shields address by the time he did.
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Instead of setting off on foot to look for her, Culyer got behind the wheel of his Citroen C3 and travelled along nearby roads in a bid to find her.
However, his "unacceptable" standard of driving soon brought him to the attention of patrolling officers, North Tyneside Magistrates' Court was told.
Culyer, of Minton Court, in North Shields, was pulled over and immediately admitted he'd been drinking before failing a roadside breath test.
His wife, by this point, had arrived back home.
The spray painter has now been banned from the roads for 19 months and fined £170 after he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
Sentencing him, District Judge Natalie Wortley said: "This is a serious offence because, when driving with alcohol in your system, you present a danger to other road users, as well as yourself.
"There is some evidence of an unacceptable standard of driving, albeit relatively brief, and, to your credit, you did admit drinking when asked.
"We have heard why you did it but that's not justification or an excuse."
The court heard that it was 1.20am on January 9 this year that patrolling officers spotted Culyer travelling along Howdon Road, in North Shields.
Prosecutor, Rob Lawson, said: "They saw the defendant in a light-coloured vehicle travelling at speed towards the roundabout with Waterville Road.
"It then crossed onto the wrong side of the road. The officers stopped the vehicle and spoke to the defendant.
"They asked him if he had been drinking and he said "yes". He was arrested and said "sorry, it's stupidity"."
The court was told that Culyer, who has no previous convictions, gave a reading of 72mcg or alcohol in 100ml of breath when the legal limit is 35.
Stuart Athey, defending, said it had never been Culyer's intention to drive after he and his wife had been out for a meal.
My Athey continued: "His wife set off walking home and he told her he would catch her up as he was still talking to her brother. There is more than one route back to their home.
"He got all the way home and discovered his wife was not there. He went to call her but realised he had left his phone at her brother's
"He panicked and went out to look for her in his car."
Culyer was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
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