Businessman banned for driving while unfit through drink

Ernst Schneider, a global research and development director for a major firm in Sweden, was seen swerving across the A458 between Llanfair Caereinion and Welshpool and mounting grass verges before coming to a stop.

Schneider, 43, of Ouston, Staffordshire, admitted a charge of driving while unfit through drink when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court yesterday.

He was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £1,000. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

Mr Matthew Ellis, prosecuting, said officers received a report of a person driving erratically on the A458 near Llanfair Caereinion.

He said: "When the officers arrived at the scene they saw a Volvo driving across the carriageway mounting a grass verge on four occasions before coming to a stop at the side.

"When the officers came to the car, the defendant had to be held up and there was a strong smell of alcohol. Officers also found that the front nearside tyre was not on the vehicle and the car had been travelling just on its wheel."

Mr Ellis said Schneider was arrested but no breath sample could be taken.

Mr Huw Williams, for Schneider, said: "My client is a global research and development director for a major Swedish company. It is an extremely senior position, but he will now lose this job.

"On this day, friends from Sweden had been visiting him and his family in Staffordshire and a big group of them had decided to travel to Barmouth for the day where they would then watch the World Cup final of football.

"While there, an argument broke out on the group and they all left except my client.

"Standed, he drove home when he should have called a taxi. He got a puncture and was heading to Welshpool for help as he could not get his phone to work and had no spare tyre."

Mr Williams added: "He accepts responsibility, but insists he was not so drunk he could not stand and was not even drunk."