A BAKERY delivery man carried out his rounds when he was over the drink-drive reading.

Peter Upton, 50, set off on his rounds for Gerrard’s Bakery in Ruthin Road, Wrexham, but was later called in by his employer who had been told it was feared he had been drinking.

When he returned in the works van the employer did not consider Upton was fit to drive but could not contact police via the 101 system.

So he told Upton to wait and went in search of a police officer.

He was able to flag down two officers who went to the bakery, Upton provided a positive breath test and a later text showed that he had 102 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath compared to the legal limit of 35.

Prosecutor James Neary told Flintshire Magistrates Court that in fairness Upton remained at the bakery and waited for officers.

District Judge Steven Jonas banned Upton, of Market Street in Rhos, from driving for two years and placed him on a six month community order with £85 costs.

The judge said it was “pretty outrageous” to drive around for a lengthy period of time for work purposes when he was under the influence of alcohol.

It was a high reading, which was not surprising given the amount of vodka he had drunk.

He had driven some distance – while Upton estimated it was 80 miles his employer believed it to be 150 miles.

Mr Neary said at 11am on Monday the bakery owner received information that when Upton arrived for work at about 3.30am there was concern that he smelt of intoxicants.

Solicitor Brian Cross, defending, said Upton, who appeared from custody, had no previous convictions for drink driving and had been in custody overnight.

Probation officer Andrew Connah said Upton accepted he had been a dependent drinker for some six years.

He did not feel under the influence of alcohol when he drove but with hindsight accepted that on occasions he would have been over the limit.

Upton appreciated the consequences of drink driving, said Mr Connah.

“He accepts he could have killed someone,” he said. “This has been a major wake-up call for him."

He lived in a rented property owned by his employer and had lost his job.

Upton hoped to retain his home until June when his contact was due to end.

He would now have to apply for benefits but would be actively seeking alternative work.