A MAN drank a bottle of vodka before crashing his car into a city centre sign, a court heard.

Tomasz Polanski, 40, of Grantham Close, Belmont, Hereford, accepted drinking a 200 millilitre bottle of vodka before crashing his black Volvo into a sign on Edgar Street.

He pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Amy Davies, prosecuting, said that police were called to a crash at 11.40pm on November 16.

"A black Volvo had sustained front end damage after crashing into a sign," said Mrs Davies.

The car was registered to the defendant and he was requested to take a road side breath test giving a reading of 76 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Numerous attempts to gain a further sample for analysis at the police station were unsuccessful.

Mrs Davies added: "On interview Polanski said that after finishing work he walked 10 minutes to his car near the football club and while walking drank a 200 millilitre bottle of vodka.

"He got in the vehicle and all he can remember is hitting something."

Emily Gourley, mitigating, said that Polanski made full admissions on interview and accepted that he was over the drink driving limit.

"He works at a local restaurant and shows remorse," said Mrs Gourley.

"His reaction was thank goodness it was a sign and not a person."

Magistrates ordered Polanski to pay a £320 fine, £32 victim surcharge and £135 costs.

He was also banned from driving for 12 months which could be reduced by 12 weeks on completion of a drink drive rehabilitation course.