A MOTORIST from Wrexham who was caught nearly two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit has been banned from the road for 20 months.

Andrew Neal Lovett was stopped by police after he almost hit a traffic bollard and then stopped his Vauxhall Astra in the middle of Llay New Road in Rhosddu.

Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told North East Wales Magistrates Court that Lovett’s driving was of a poor standard and he smelt of alcohol.

A breath test reading at the police station showed a level of 86mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35.

Lovett was also found to have no MOT certificate for his vehicle.

Lovett, 45, of Dale Road, New Broughton, admitted drink-driving on December 4 and using a vehicle without a test certificate on the same day.

David Matthews, defending, said Lovett had not intended to drive but had received bad news at home and made the “foolish decision” to drive to his mother’s home.

“It was an ill-judged decision and the loss of his licence will strike hard as his wife has a serious illness and he takes her to hospital when she is incapable.

"The loss of the licence will affect his job.”

As well as imposing the driving ban, District Judge Gwyn Jones fined Lovett £400 for both offences and ordered him to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30.

He was offered a drink-drive rehabilitation course aimed at reducing his driving disqualification.