A SOLDIER has been banned from driving for 18 months after he was found to be over the drink-drive limit following a family Christening.

Hereford Magistrates Court heard that 18-year-old Robbie Smith was stopped by police on May 3 in Edgar Street, Hereford, and had 76mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath- the legal limit is 35mg.

Smith, of Stonebow Road, Hereford pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

The court heard officers stopped Smith at 10.15pm after they saw him swerving in the road on the A465 from the Asda roundabout.

Chris Read, defending, said Smith had been at a family Christening at Hereford Railway Club, when he left to drive home.

He said he had been at the Christening for a large part of the day and had been drinking slowly, and did not realise he was over the limit.

Mr Read said he is a man of good character, who had gone through 80 weeks training with the army.

His training had been focused on becoming a driver of armoured vehicles. and his commanding officer will now have to assess his future.

Smith was banned from driving for 18 months, with a reduction of four months if he takes a drink-drive rehabilitation course.

He was fined £300, ordered to pay £85 costs, a £150 criminal court charge and a £30 victim surcharge.