A CRASH driver was almost twice the limit when he got behind the wheel the morning after a night out celebrating.

Guy Pearson admitted drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police were called to a crash on the A40 in Herefordshire in the early hours of May 23, prosecutor Elizabeth Blacklock said.

They arrived on scene to find debris scattered across one lane, Pearson's Ford Fiesta in a ditch, and damage to the central reservation.

Pearson, who confirmed he had been the driver and sole occupant of the car was waiting at the roadside and was arrested after failing a roadside breath test.

An evidential test in custody revealed he had 62 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

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Emma Thorne, for Pearson, who works installing septic tanks, said it was a case of 'the morning after the night before' for the 27-year-old.

"He had been celebrating his brother's birthday and had drunk lager," she said.

"He went home and got up to travel to Bristol for work at 5am in the morning. He was about to start his working week and was only about five miles from home when a lorry indicated to come into his lane. He feared it had not seen him and swerved, hitting the central reservation.

"He did not think for a moment that he would be arrested, and thought he was the victim of bad luck. When police arrived, he was really shocked as he thought the alcohol from the night before would be long gone from his system."

Pearson, who is of Hill Street, Ross-on-Wye, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £250. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.