Ex-Lord Mayor Of London Caught Drink-Driving Near Bank Of England

Sir Francis leaving court

Former Lord Mayor of London Sir Francis McWilliams was caught drink-driving when officers from the police force he was once boss of stopped his Jaguar in the early hours near the Bank of England.

Retired civil engineer Sir Francis, 89, claims he enjoyed some wine during a family dinner in the Square Mile and when officers stopped him at 2.30am his "eyes were glazed" and "his speech was slurred," City of London Magistrates Court heard.

Edinburgh-born Sir Francis, who lives in an exclusive apartment within 'A' listed Georgian mansion Whittingehame House, Stenton, East Lothian - where a flat once sold for £2.5m - pleaded guilty to driving his blue 2.7 litre Jaguar XF with excess alcohol in Threadneedle Street on March 15.

The court was told City of London police on patrol pulled him over and Sir Francis, who was appointed to the historic role in 1992, failed a roadside breath-test after alcohol was smelled on him and he was arrested.

He later gave a reading of 42 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

"Mr. McWilliams attended a family dinner and came down from Scotland," explained his lawyer. "He had some wine and did not feel impaired in the slightest.

"That was an unfortunate error of judgement and brings him to court today. Something he regrets."

Sir Francis, who is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and became involved in Square Mile politics via the Barbican's residents association, was fined £500, with £85 costs, ordered to pay a £50 victim surcharge and was disqualified for twelve months.

The court heard he has been driving since 1953 and has never received an endorsement on his licence and has no previous convictions.

The magistrates proceeded to sentencing after retiring while legal checks were made to confirm a driving disqualification made in an English court would also apply to Scotland.

No mention was made of his previous position of Lord Mayor during the hearing and he identified himself as "Mr. McWilliams."

The magistrates court is next-door to the Mansion House, where Sir Francis would have presided over many ceremonial functions during his term of office and is also on the route of the annual Lord Mayor's Show.

While Lord Mayor Sir Francis described his role as: "Ambassadorial in representing the financial City to the world outside."

Sir Francis ran his own consulting engineering practise for many years then became legally-qualified to rule on disputes within the industry and is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.