A DRINK-DRIVER was caught after running a red light in Hereford.

Jerzy Kapuscinski admitted drink driving, driving without a licence, and failing to comply with traffic signals when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police had been on patrol on the A49 in Hereford when they saw Kapuscinski's Nissan Almera travelling across Greyfriars Bridge and through a red traffic light at 12.15pm on May 30. 

Kapuscinski, who was travelling alone and without L plates, produced a provisional licence when he was pulled over by police and was arrested after failing a roadside breath test.

An evidential test in custody revealed he had 51 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Emily Gourley, for Kapuscinski, said the 60-year-old fully accepted that he had been drinking heavily the night before.

"He says he was drinking beer with friends into the early hours of the morning," Mrs Gourley said.

"He had slept very little but then decided to drive to his wife's home as she had thrown his belongings out into the street. He thought he would be ok to drive, but he fully accepts the case in its entirety."

The court heard Kapuscinksi, who works as a self-employed gardener, has friends who would be able to transport him to and from work during the course of a mandatory driving ban.

Kapuscinski, who is of no fixed address, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £500. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.