A RUGBY fan has been banned from the roads after he was caught on his way home from the pub while more than twice the limit.

Russell Pugh admitted one count of drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford in March.

Police were on patrol when they came across Pugh behind the wheel of a Toyota Hilux on the A465 at 8.50pm on February 12.

Hereford Times:

Pugh was stopped and arrested after failing a roadside breath test.

An evidential breath test in custody revealed he had 84 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Pugh, said he had entered an early guilty plea and had cooperated with police at the roadside and at the police station.

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She said that the 40-year-old had been to the pub earlier that evening to watch the rugby and had drunk two and a half pints of Stowford cider over several hours.

He had then gone to a shop to buy food and was planning to visit a friend, Miss Di Vitantonio said.

"He says he felt ok to drive, but clearly that was not the case," she said.

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"He cannot explain the reading, and he has suggested that maybe he could have been spiked as he finds the reading unusual."

Pugh, of Fairway in Garway, Herefordshire, was fined £120 and disqualified from driving for 19 months.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £135 and a £48 victim surcharge.