A local electrical engineer has been banned from driving after admitting to being double the drink drive limit.

John Charles Leonard, aged 53 of Brodawel, Caerwedros, Llandysul, pleaded guilty to driving after consuming excess alcohol, when he appeared before Aberystwyth magistrates on Wednesday.

The court heard that police stopped Leonard on an unclassified road near Cross Inn at 10.30pm on February 17.

He was found to have 71mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

Stephen Welch, defending, said the father-of-four provided an essential service in the local area, and the loss of his licence would cause him great inconvenience, as he was also responsible for driving his elderly blind mother to appointments.

On the night in question had been collecting payment for work previously carried out, and had been offered a drink.

Mr Welch added that Leonard was a mile and a quarter from his home, and had only driven a third of the way when he was stopped, and there was no other traffic on the single track road.

“He had actually driven less than half a mile. He is very regretful about the decision to drive that night, and apologises for his actions.”

Magistrates disqualified Leonard from driving for 22 months. He was also fined £325, and ordered to pay costs of £85, plus a £32 victim surcharge.