A MAN was told he was a ham sandwich short of a passing a breath test for drink driving.

Instead, Josh Cole, 29, of Parc Bychan, Wrexham, was banned from driving for a year, after being stopped by police on November 23 after they noticed he had a broken break light.

Bethan Jones, defending Cole at the hearing at Mold Magistrates Court, said her client had mistakenly believed “the old folk law” that it was okay to drive after drinking two pints. Ms Jones went on to say that Cole, who works as a mechanical technician, was fortunate that the driving ban would not cost him his livelihood, which he was very thankful for.

Cole was actually told he could take his car with him when he was released from custody as a further sample of breath gave a reading below the limit. At the time of providing the positive sample, one police officer commented to Cole how he would most likely have been okay if he had eaten a ham sandwich, instead of driving to the shops after drinking the two pints.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told the court that it was around 7pm on the evening in question when a patrol car spotted Cole’s Honda Accord exceeding the speed limit on Acton Gate, and because his brake lights weren’t working, signalled for him to pull over. After smelling intoxicants, officers took Cole into custody where he gave a positive reading for alcohol - 46 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - with the limit being 35mg/100ml.

Cole was also fined £300, and must pay other costs totalling £87 but was told his ban will be reduced by three months if he completes a drink drive rehabilitation course.