A FORKLIFT driver has been banned from the roads after he was caught driving while three times the limit in Herefordshire.

Christian Stoian admitted drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police were called to reports of a car which was believed to be being driven by a drunk driver on April 16, prosecutor Melanie Winterflood said.

Officers caught up with Stoian's silver BMW as he drove through Much Marcle, and approached him when he eventually came to a stop on the A49 Ross Road at the Callow.

He was arrested after failing a roadside breath test, and an evidential test in custody revealed he had 98 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, almost three times the legal limit of 35.

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Philip Cornell, for Stoian, said the 35-year-old had fully cooperated with police.

"He tells me he went to a friend's house and was planning to sleep there," Mr Cornell said.

"But there was a falling out, and he then drove back because of this. It is as simple as that and now he faces the consequences.

"He is remorseful and respectful and understands he could have killed himself or someone else."

The court heard seasonal worker Stoian is a qualified forklift driver and will be able to keep his job at a garden nursery in Allensmore despite a mandatory roads ban.

Stoian, who is of Tram Inn, Herefordshire, was handed a 12-month community order with 150 hours unpaid work and disqualified from driving for 26 months. He must pay costs of £135 and a £95 victim surcharge.