A PENSIONER was caught drink-driving after shop staff refused to sell him more alcohol.

Thomas Perfit admitted one count of drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford in October.

Police were called to Bartestree by shop staff who had refused to sell Perfit alcohol on April 8, prosecutor Eleanor Peart said.

They had seen an intoxicated Perfit getting into his Toyota Corolla after leaving the shop and driving away.

Officers spoke to Perfit at his home and he was arrested after failing a roadside breath test. An evidential blood test revealed he had 188 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

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George Cousins, for Perfit, said the 76-year-old has long-standing mobility issues and is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.

"He says he drank some alcohol before going to the shop and drank more after getting back," Mr Cousins said.

"He does not wish to challenge the case and says he never wants to drive again.

"He has been driving for 58 years, and used to drive emergency vehicles for the fire service. He has never had so much as a parking ticket in that time."

Mr Cousins said Perfit was very sorry to have found himself in such a situation.

Perfit, who is of Bartestree, Herefordshire, was disqualified from driving for 20 months and fined £438 for the offence.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £135 and a £44 victim surcharge.

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