A 24-year-old mechanic was more than double the drink-drive limit when he crashed a car into a wall in Hereford.

Thomas Bowen of Alderwood, Stoke Prior, Leominster was driving his girlfriend's BMW on April 9 on Blueschool Street when he collided with a wall.

His girlfriend was in the car at the time, and officers attended at around 10.30pm and breathalysed him. He was found to have 86mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath- the legal limit is 35mg.

Bowen pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The court heard he had a drink-drive related conviction from 2012, where he was in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol. He was not disqualified then but given 10 penalty points.

Matthew Lewis, defending, said Bowen had paid for the damage caused.

He said Bowen had worked as a mechanic for South Hereford Garages of Whitchurch for eight years.

As a result of a disqualification he will probably lose his job as his company policy requires him to have a driving licence.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months, which can be reduced by four months if a drink-drive course is completed.

Bowen was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30.