A BRICKLAYER has been banned from the roads after driving away from an argument with his partner.

Barney Smith entered a guilty plea when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

He was reported to have been drink-driving in Hereford at 5.30pm on April 2, prosecutor Eleanor Peart said.

Smith, his black Vauxhall Zafira, and a child passenger were found in a bus stop in Eign Street and he was arrested after telling police he had last had a drink 15 minutes earlier and failing a roadside breath test.

An evidential test in custody revealed he had 66 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

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Philip Cornell, for Smith, said the 34-year-old self-employed bricklayer had got behind the wheel after a falling out with his partner.

"He did not travel far before police stopped him," Mr Cornell said.

"He will lose his licence for this, but his partner will help him when she can by driving him to places and he is able to cycle to his current contract. He also has a labourer who works with him who can drive."

Smith, who is of Lowfield Meadow, Kingstone, was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £500. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £50 victim surcharge.