A DRINK-DRIVER had an open can of Stella Artois lager in his car after he was followed through Hereford while more than twice the legal limit.

Hereford Magistrates' Court heard how a car being driven by Daniel Jackson was pulled over by police on November 20 when they spotted the drink in his Volkswagen Golf's central console.

The 19-year-old has now been banned from the roads for 18 months. 

Melanie Winterflood, prosecuting, said he was caught when an officer saw him driving "at speed" at around 2.20am.

Ms Winterflood said that at the police station Jackson, of Cherry Orchard, Tillington, blew an evidential breath test reading of 78 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the limit is 35.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving and has no previous convictions.

Ms Winterflood said: "He was cooperative and compliant with police both at the roadside and at the police station."

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Chris Reid, mitigating, said his client worked as an apprentice at a carpenters in Ross-on-Wye, and that the effect of the driving ban would be huge for him as he would be unable to get to work.

He said the drink-driving had taken place after Jackson had spent an evening in Hereford with friends at the pub, before sleeping for several hours at a friend's house. 

Mr Reid added that the open can, despite causing police suspicion, had belonged to a passenger in Jackson's car.

Magistrates fined Jackson £120, ordered him to pay £135 costs, a £48 victim surcharge and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.

The ban will be reduced on the successful completion of a drink-drive course the defendant has chosen to take.