A GRIEVING father has been banned from driving after admitting to being more than twice over the legal limit.

Kenny Keith Phillips, 31, of Mornington Crescent, Buckley, was appearing at Mold Magistrates Court, where he also admitted to a second charge of causing criminal damage.

Wyn Jones, prosecuting, said police had been called to an address in Buckley just before 11pm on July 7, to reports of damage caused to several kitchen appliances.

Victim Karen Gelder, the partner of Phillips at the time, told them how he had used a hammer to destroy a washing machine, tumble dryer and kitchen cupboard, before leaving the address in his Vauxhall Astra.

Police found Phillips inside the vehicle shortly afterwards in nearby Queens Drive.

He gave a reading of 79 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 ml of breath - the legal limit being 35.

Emma Simoes, defending, said Phillips had been going through a very difficult time for the last couple of years, circumstances prompted after he and his partner had lost two of their three identical triplet sons.

She added neither Phillips nor his partner had had any real support, and in his case, had been using alcohol and recreational drugs to mask his problems.

On the night, Ms Simoes added, both Phillips and Ms Gelder had enjoyed a night out together, but when they returned home an argument ensued because of the amount of drink Phillips had consumed. After briefly leaving the home to get some fresh air, Phillips returned to find Ms Gelder had emptied all of his beer down the sink.

Phillips fully accepted this prompted him to damage the kitchen appliances, which Ms Simoes stressed, he had since replaced.

Probation officer Andrew Cunnah confirmed Phillips had managed to cut his alcohol intake back and had returned home to live with his mother.

Phillips was disqualified from driving for 17 months, fined £200 and must pay other costs of £117.