A DRUNKEN man crashed into a telegraph pole near his home in a Herefordshire village.

Julian Creed admitted drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police were called to reports of a crash on the B4361 at Luston at 8.30pm on June 23, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

Officers headed to the scene, where they found a heavily damaged Ford Kuga had crashed into a telegraph pole, ripping it out of the ground.

Creed, who has a previous motoring conviction dating from 2011, identified himself as the driver and was asked to take a roadside breath test, which returned a positive result.

An evidential test in custody revealed he had 125 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than three times the legal limit of 35.

"It seems he said he was on medication and was suffering mental health issues at the time," Mr Hambling said.

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Charlotte Gregory, for Creed, said the 58-year-old had provided character references and that probation was aware of his issues.

"He was working and has been full and frank with his employers," she said.

The court heard that Creed has been offered flexi-time to allow him to work with any services ordered by the court.

The case was sent for a pre-sentencing report to be carried out by probation, and Creed, of B4361, Luston, Leominster, was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and must carry out 140 hours of unpaid work and complete a six month alcohol treatment programme. He was also disqualified from driving for 36 months.

He must also pay costs of £135 and a £54 victim surcharge.