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A DRINK-DRIVER called 999 after crashing his car into a field on a country lane.

James Hughes entered a guilty plea to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the alcohol limit when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford earlier this month.

Hughes’ phone had automatically contacted emergency services as it detected he had been involved in a crash and sent an automated message to police.

When police arrived at the scene at around midnight on June 29, Hughes admitted he had been driving his Honda while over the drink-drive limit, prosecuting solicitor Jack Taylor said.

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The 25-year-old was on a country lane in Little Dewchurch before crashing his car into a field.

He was arrested and taken to Hereford police station, where an evidential breath test revealed he had 74 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Matt Lewis, for Hughes, said the defendant “accepts he has a problem with alcohol and registered with Turning Point. He has been receiving therapy for issues linked to his behaviour.”

Hughes, who is of Ledbury Road, Hereford, was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £250. He must also pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £130 victim surcharge.