A DELIVERY driver has been banned from the roads after drinking whisky before getting behind the wheel.

Erdzhan Salimov admitted drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

An off-duty police officer had spotted delivery driver Salimov as he drove along the B4457 near Leominster on December 28, prosecutor Elizabeth Blacklock said.

He had become concerned about his driving, noting Salimov's Toyota Avensis was travelling at around 20 miles per hour in a 60 zone, was swerving across the road, and had massively overshot a turning.

Police were called after Salimov pulled up on a driveway, with the off-duty officer blacking him in with his own car to prevent him leaving.

Salimov, who told officers he had drunk whisky half an hour before driving, was arrested after failing a roadside breath test. An evidential test in custody revealed he had 79 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

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George Cousins, for Salimov, said the 44-year-old had given a slightly different slant on what had happened that day.

"He had been out and had a drink and drove his car, but immediately realised he was not fit to drive," Mr Cousins said.

"He phoned his partner and asked her to come and pick him up and was looking for a place to park, hence driving at 20 miles per hour.

"He pulled up in what he thought was a parking space and was followed by an off-duty police officer. By this time, his partner was on the way and she was able to translate when she arrived at the scene."

The caught heard Salimov, who works as a delivery driver, would lose his job as a result of his conviction.

Salimov, of Ryelands Street, Hereford, was disqualified from driving for 20 months and fined £120. He must also pay costs of £85 and a £34 victim surcharge.

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