A TEENAGER has been banned from the roads after panicking and ignoring a police officer's warning.

Aneurin Humphries admitted drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police had already spoken to the teenager in the early hours of April 2, warning him not to drive or move his car until at least midday as they believed he was drunk, prosecutor Eleanor Peart said.

But at 4.50am that morning he was pulled over behind the wheel of a Toyota Yaris in Leominster's Barons Cross Road.

Humphries, who has no previous convictions, was arrested after failing a roadside breath test, and an evidential test in custody revealed he had 51 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

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Charlotte Gregory, for Humphries, said the 19-year-old had never been before the court before and was very remorseful and apologetic to police.

"He has accepted responsibility and he is embarrassed," Miss Gregory said.

"He had not set out to drink on that day, but he was meeting friends and did in fact start drinking. When he was spoken to by police he took their advice and did try to find alternatives.

"He asked a friend's family if he could sleep there, but they said no, and being in drink and being young he panicked, got behind the wheel, and tried to drive home. He did not think fully.

The court heard that he had at the time had some bad news about a family member and that the loss of his licence will have wider consequences, as he does the shopping for his grandmother.

He will be able to keep his job at a fish and chip shop despite no longer being able to make deliveries, Miss Graham said.

Humphries, of Rockes Meadow, Knighton, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £200. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.