A driver has been banned from the roads after he was caught behind the wheel while over the alcohol limit.

Thomas Alex Young, of Lewis Place, New Radnor, admitted the charge when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

The court heard Young had caught the attention of police on Blueschool Street, Hereford, in the early hours of March 1.

Prosecutor Shafquat Reaz said officers had stopped and spoken to the 20-year-old after spotting him driving through the city.

Young was taken into custody after failing a roadside breath test, and an evidential sample showed he had 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Emma Thorne, for Young, said the level two mechanic had received bad news about a close relative’s health the day before, and had found it very hard to bear.

“He went home, and decided to go with a friend to a pub to console himself,” Mrs Thorne said.

“He only planned on having a couple of drinks, and had two pints of lager there. He planned to walk back to his friend’s house, but his friend then suggested they go to Hereford, where he had a bottle of cider and then got in the car and drove.

“He says he felt nervous about doing it, and normally would not have done so. He cannot express how awful he feels about this.”

Young was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £80. He must also pay costs of £70 and a £32 victim surcharge.