A VETERAN who was more than three times the drink drive limit crashed his car into a hedge.

Craig Waters appeared before magistrates in Worcester on March 12 where he admitted driving with 129 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35. The court heard how Waters had gone to the pub on February 16, deciding to drive home.

Prosecutor Ralph Robyns-Landricombe said: “At 21.45 on the night, officers were attending an incident in Pershore where they came across a Mini in a hedge just beyond the turning out of Wick. PC Brown spoke to the defendant, who admitted being the driver.”

The officer noticed 29 year-old Waters, who is a former member of the armed forces, was swaying from side to side smelling strongly of alcohol.

Waters, of Malin Mews, Evesham, took a roadside breath test and blew 140 in 100 microgrammes of breath. Two more tests were carried out at Worcester Police Station, where his lowest reading was 129.

Representing Waters, Shaun Newey said: “He has never been before the court before and his regular habit is to leave his keys behind the bar at the pub and get a taxi home. On this day he did not, he got to the end of the night and for no reason decided to drive home.”

The court heard how Waters had been due to start work for the prison service, but his conviction meant it was no longer possible.

Chair of the bench Jane Laverick warned Waters he could have faced time in prison, saying: “It has to be said you could have been facing a custodial sentence. We are concerned about the very high reading and the fact you had no recollection of what happened.”

Waters was handed a 12 month community order with 160 hours unpaid work as well as being banned from driving for 32 months.

He was also ordered to pay £135 costs and a £90 victim surcharge.