A VAN driver 'must deal with the consequences' after he was caught drink-driving near his home in Hereford.
Ronald Goode entered a guilty plea when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.
Police spotted an Iveco Daily van with a broken brake light being driven in Rotherwas' Chapel Road at 11.40pm on March 17, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.
Driver Goode was pulled over and was arrested after failing a roadside breath test.
An evidential test in custody revealed he had 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
OTHER NEWS:
- Herefordshire court round-up: teen accused of baby murder and company killed fish
- Herefordshire thief banned from drinking alcohol
- Food hygiene: Herefordshire pub and cafe told improvement necessary
Chris Read, for Goode, said the 65-year-old had been travelling home when he was stopped by police because his brake light was not working properly.
"He had been out for the evening and had drunk some alcohol. but he had been responsible and did not believe he would be over the limit," Mr Read said.
"He was wrong, and now has to deal with the consequences."
The court heard Goode is not currently in work and has been living off his savings, but that his state pension would start this month.
Goode, of Chapel Road, Rotherwas, was fined £80 and disqualified from driving for 12 months. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here