A SOLDIER has been disqualified from driving for 17 months after he was over twice the alcohol limit. 

Daniel Parry, of Matlock Close in Aylesham, near Canterbury in Kent, was stopped by police on Ross Road in Hereford during the early hours of November 2, 2023. 

In a roadside test, the 31-year-old had 90 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, before it went down to 73mcg when a second one was carried out at the police station. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Prosecuting solicitor, Owen Beale told the court that police were made aware of Parry's Fiat 500 after receiving a call from Ministry of Defence (MOD) officers that it was speeding.

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"They spoke to the defendant and it was very clear he was drunk," said Mr Beale. 

"He has no other convictions and is a man of good character."

In defence, Matt Lewis said his client, who pleaded guilty to drink driving, accepts he was fully responsible for his actions.

"He cooperated with the police and there are no issues at all about his actions while at the police station," said Mr Lewis.

"He is in the Armed Forces and he faces further disciplinary proceedings.

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"His captain assures me that Mr Parry has an exemplary record within the Army. He is willing to undertake a drink-drive rehabilitation course which will reduce the disqualification by 25 per cent."

In handing out their sentence, the magistrates considered Parry's guilty plea and exemplary record within the Army. 

They supported the idea of him carrying out the course, which would reduce his 17-month disqualification. Parry was also fined £438 and told to pay court costs of £135 and a government victim surcharge of £175 respectively.