A DRINK-DRIVER has been banned from the roads after he was caught driving suspiciously slowly on a rural road.

Edward Johnston entered a guilty plea when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police had seen Johnston travelling at around 20 miles per hour in a Citroen on the rural Ridgeway Road in Sutton St Nicholas in the early evening of November 14, prosecutor Elizabeth Blacklock said.

Officers, who said their suspicions were aroused by his low speed and 'poor lane discipline' on a national speed limit road, pulled him over, and he was arrested after failing a roadside breath test.

An evidential breath test in custody revealed he had 90 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Speaking on his own behalf, the 50-year-old said he wanted to express his shame and remorse for his irresponsible behaviour.

"I cannot defend my actions, but I would like to point out that I was not really aware of the level of alcohol in my body," he said.

"This was due to my naivety and had I realised this I would not have been driving.

"My family in Sutton were expecting me for Sunday dinner. We had a heavy night the night before and had spent all day not really doing anything before going out for what was going to be a lovely evening with my family, and I had clearly topped it up enough to be over the limit.

"I feel deeply ashamed that while putting lives in danger, I have also blackened my name."

The court heard Johnston is currently claiming benefits after coronavirus lockdown scuppered his plans for a new business.

Johnston, of St James Road, Hereford, was fined £120, received a six-month community order, and was disqualified from driving for 23 months.

He must also pay costs of £135 and a £95 victim surcharge.