A VAN driver has been banned from the roads for two years after he was nearly three times the drink-drive limit.

Joshua McQueen, of Bridge Street, Kington, was stopped by police in Gravel Hill Road at 1am on June 13. Melanie Winterflood, prosecuting at Hereford Magistrates Court, said officers followed it to a driveway of a property and McQueen was asked to take a specimen of breath.

"Police officers are confident he had been drinking and conducted a roadside breath test which was positive," she said.

The court heard that McQueen, who pleaded guilty to drink driving, was taken to the police station and provided two further breath sample.

The lowest reading was 101 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; the legal limit is 35mcg. 

ALSO READ:

"He was interviewed and didn't deny he was the driver," added Ms Winterflood.

In defence, Marilena Di Vitantonio said that her client was initially going to plead not guilty before changing his mind after seeking advice.

"His not guilty plea was on the basis that Mr McQueen was on private land because he was on his driveway," said Ms Di Vitantonio.

"Since that time, the police produced some pictures where they say he had driven an extremely short distance. He was interviewed and was very frank and honest.

"His intention wasn't to drive on that evening, but alcohol was consumed." 

Magistrates disqualified McQueen from driving for two years, although that will be reduced if he successfully completes a drink-drive rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £865 and told to pay court costs of £135 and a £246 victim surcharge respectively.