A HEREFORD BMW driver has been banned from the roads for 18 months after he was over twice the drink-drive limit.

Paul Murphy, of Bricknell Close, Hereford, was driving a BMW two series in Holmer Street when he was stopped on November 30 last year.

The 70-year-old failed a breath test, and was shown to have 72 micrograms (mg) of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mg.

Owen Beale, prosecuting at Hereford Magistrates' Court this month, said he had consumed so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath was over twice the prescribed limit.

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Murphy was defended at the hearing by Chris Read.

Magistrates told Murphy that if he successfully completed a drink-driving rehabilitation course, his ban would be reduced by 18 weeks.

He was also fined £120, as well as told to pay prosecution costs of £135 and a surcharge of £48, all to be paid to the court in installments.