A trip to get fish and chips after watching Wales play rugby against France, resulted in a three year driving ban for a pensioner.

John James Naisbitt, aged 75, of 7 Cunningham Avenue, St Albans, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit when he appeared before Aberystwyth magistrates last week.

The court heard that Naisbitt was stopped by police in Cardigan at 9.30pm on February 21, and was found to have 59mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

Ellie Morgan, prosecuting, said police spotted a VW Golf making sharp manouvers and noted it seemed to struggle to stay in a straight line.

The officer followed the car from Pendre to the Strand and were greeted by the smell of chips and alcohol when the driver opened the door.

Miss Morgan added that Naisbitt had been disqualified from diving for 18 months in 2009.

Janem Jones, defending, said: “Mr Naisbitt says he is ashamed and disgusted with himself to be here this morning.

“There is a certain irony to this, as he and his family were spending the week in west Wales in a remote house to help a family member with alcohol problems.”

She added that her client, a retired chartered civil engineer, drank half-pints of very weak beer while watching the match, before going to collect fish and chips.

“This will have a devastating effect on him. Before 2009 he had a clean licence after driving for 60 years.

“The whole week seemed to have turned into a nightmare.”

Magistrates disqualified Naisbitt from driving for three years and ordered him to pay a fine and costs totalling £415.