A Narberth man who was ejected from a pub in the town after being aggressive has been banned from driving for 20 months after admitting a drink-drive charge in court.

Fifty-year-old Michael Powell, of Kiln Park Road, appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday to plead guilty to a charge of driving his Renault Traffic Van with 79 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told the court that police were called to attend the Ivy Bush Inn on Narberth High Street on Saturday, February 11, at around 10.30 pm, after Mr. Powell had been reported for being aggressive at the premises and causing problems.

“He’d been ejected from the pub and the police officer who attended transported the defendant to his home in an unmarked police vehicle,” she explained.

“Mr. Powell was advised by the officer not to drive when he got home or try and go back into the town. The officer watched him enter his house, turn his light on and take his coat off.

“Soon after, the officer, who had returned to town, was sat in his vehicle when he noticed a vehicle pull in behind him. It was Mr. Powell, who had completely ignored the officer’s advice, and had driven himself back into town.

“The officer knew the defendant was drunk, and a roadside test proved positive.

At the police station, Mr. Powell gave a reading of 79, which is well over twice the legal limit,” added Ms Morgan.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Hill told the court that his client had made an ‘inexplicable error’ to drive back into town.

“Mr. Powell doesn’t go out often, he had drunk a Guinness and a few whiskies, and things got blurry for him. He accepts that he was causing problems at the public house.

“It’s a tribute to the police officer that he made a sensible decision to drive Mr. Powell home, but there is no explanation as to why he then took his car back out.

“He didn’t know where he was going, and wasn’t pulled over by the officer, but came to his senses and decided to stop driving, and just happened to pull over behind the officer’s vehicle.

“Mr. Powell is a self- employed plasterer and in light of a disqualification, will not be able to work.

“He has two young boys and is separated from his partner, so this will have a devastating effect.

“It’s a baffling moment of madness, and an inexplicable error, that will cost him and his family dearly,” he added.

Magistrates disqualified Mr. Powell from driving for 20 months, and fined him £400 for the offence. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £40 victim surcharge.