A DRINK-driver who crashed in to a Herefordshire tattoo parlour has been handed a roads ban.

Simeli Matavutuka entered a guilty plea when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Emergency services were called to reports of a crash in Hereford's St Owen Street just after 2.15am on July 5, prosecutor Melanie Winterflood said.

On arrival, they found a Vauxhall Astra had crashed into a building, the Aaargh Tattoo Parlour.

The building was seriously damaged and was cordoned off while firefighters worked to make it safe.

Police noted driver Matavutuka's eyes were glazed and that he was unsteady on his feet, and he was arrested after failing a roadside breath test.

An evidential test in custody revealed the 47-year-old had 74 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

READ MORE: 

Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Matavutuka, said the crash had not been witnessed and that he had admitted he had been driving in police interview.

"He is a man of previous good character and has never been before the court before," Miss Di Vitantonio said.

Matavutuka, of Catherine Place, Longford, was disqualified from driving for 17 months and fined £411. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £41 victim surcharge.