A WREXHAM HGV driver drunk ten pints in a pub before deciding to drive home, a court has heard.

Thomas Patrick Humphreys, 52, of Bannister Drive in Llay, was spotted by a police patrol car driving out of the Hollybush pub car park in Caergwrle at around 8pm on November 23. When police signalled for him to stop on High Street, Humphreys immediately accepted his guilt, telling officers “I know what I’ve done wrong”.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told Mold Magistrates Court that had been more than three time over the drink limit, with the proportion of alcohol being 109 microgrammes to 100 millilitres of breath, with the legal limit being 35mg/100ml.

Bethan Jones, defending her client at Mold Magistrates Court, said her client, who lives alone, was a HGV driver and had lost his job as a result of committing the offences. She said Humphreys had divorced last year, with the break down of the marriage being blamed on his excessive drinking.

Probation officer officer Leah Cosgrove said Humphreys led a fairly isolated life, and we would go to the put every night after work and drink five to six pints of beer.

On the night in question, Humphreys had finished work and instead of going to his local pub, which was a five minute walk from his home, he instead drove his VW Golf to the Hollybush pub to meet some friends. He stayed in the pub for some four hours and in that time, drank ten pints before he took a risk and drove home, accepting that he should have got a taxi.

He was banned from driving for a period of 26 months and ordered to serve a 12 month community order, with conditions he complete a six month alcohol treatment programme and 120 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay costs totalling £175.