A MAN was caught drink driving on his way home from working at a south Herefordshire pub, magistrates heard.

Ayrton Lowther, 29, of Goodrich, Ross-on-Wye pleaded guilty to drink driving at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Owen Beale, prosecuting at Hereford Magistrates Court last Thursday said that at 11.20pm on January 27 a police officer was on patrol in Goodrich, Ross-on-Wye when they saw Lowther driving 'very slowly' on an unclassified road.

Police stopped the vehicle and spoke to him.

"It was clear that he was affected by alcohol and he failed a road-side test," said Mr Beale.

Lowther gave a test reading of 84 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Andrew Twomlow, mitigating, said that Lowther had been driving for about half a mile when he was stopped.

"He had been working in the pub before meeting with friends and had intended to walk back having drunk far more than he should have done, but made the foolish decision to drive," said Mr Twomlow.

"For 10 years he has been involved in the hospitality trade running successful premises. In 2017 he was suffering from depression which was exasperated by his exposure to alcohol and binge drinking.

"The incident comes about as he was assisting, as the pub manager had gone on holiday. Since then he hasn't drunk alcohol at all. He was stopped as police thought his number plate was illegal but it wasn't.

"A conclusion has been reached that to remain in the hospitality trade would be inappropriate for him. His father runs a successful business and found him a position there as a site manager. He is taking positive steps and no intervention is needed."

Lowther was disqualified from driving for 16 months, which could be reduced by four months on the completion of a drink driving rehabilitation course.

He was also ordered to pay a £400 fine, £135 costs and a £40 victim surcharge.