A man from Whitland, involved in a road traffic collision, has been banned from getting behind the wheel of his vehicle for 18 months after admitting a drink-driving offence.

Twenty-four-year-old Mark Anthony John, of Llanglydwen, Hebron, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court, on Tuesday, to plead guilty to driving his VW Golf, in Crymych, whilst exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol.

Prosecutor Mr. Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told magistrates that on August 16, at around 2 am, a police officer on duty was driving towards Crymych, when he came across two vehicles involved in an accident.

“According to the officer, Mr. John was slightly unsteady on his feet and his speech was slightly slurred.

“He said that he’d consumed two cans of cider at a party, and gave a reading of 73 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when tested,” he explained.

Mr. John’s solicitor, Mr. Mike Kelleher, told the court that his client had been out at a party and telephoned his sister for a lift home.

“His sister arrived with her boyfriend, but realised that neither had insurance to drive Mr. John’s vehicle, so not wanting to leave his car there, foolishly he decided to drive, with his sister driving in front of him,” he said.

“What followed was a minor collision, but there were no injuries to either of the parties involved,” continued Mr. Kelleher, explaining that Mr. John, an agricultural contractor, would now be likely to lose his job.

Mr. John was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £110.

He was also orderd to pay costs of £85, a £20 victim surcharge and a court charge of £150.