Repeat drink-driver gets 42-month ban
A man who drove his girlfriend's car while almost three times the drink-drive limit had only just seen a previous disqualification for drink-driving expire, a court heard.
Carwyn Hoyle was stopped by police after being seen driving "erratically".
When officers pulled him over, they found he had only just finished a ban for drink-driving.
He was breathalysed and found to have 101 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.
Magistrates banned Hoyle, 26, from the road for 42 months and fined him £400.
During an appearance at the court yesterday he admitted drink-driving on April 9 in around Welshpool town centre and driving without insurance.
In addition to the ban, Hoyle, of Burgess Close, Welshpool, was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. He was also placed on a six-month community order with an excess alcohol requirement.
Mrs Helen Tench, prosecuting, said: "At 11.30pm on April 9, officers who were on duty in Welshpool noticed a car driving erratically and at speed towards Red Bank.
"The car cut across the mini roundabout on Red Bank and entered Burgess Close.
"He was stopped and he told the officers that he was driving his girlfriend's car and that he had only just been back on the road after a previous drink-drive disqualification."
Mrs Tench said officers noticed Hoyle was unsteady on his feet and had glazed eyes so decided to breathalyse him.
She said: "He was given a roadside breath test which gave a positive reading. Back at the station he gave a reading of 101.
"The vehicle was seized as the defendant was not insured to drive it and has now been registered as off the road by the owner.
"When interviewed by the police he said he kept his work tools in the car, a Ford Fiesta. He said he had gone from work to have a drink with fiends, had drank five pints and decided to drive home."
Miss Kim Roberts, for Hoyle, said her client "fully accepted responsibility for his actions."
She added: "He had been going through a rocky patch with his partner at the time in question and had decided to go for a few post-work drinks with friends.
"Unfortunately he made the decision to drive home, something he admits is a complete error. He does not mind me saying that he is completely embarrassed by what has happened and he now says he will learn from this mistake."
