A loose horse led to a driving ban for a local farrier last week.

Garry O’Grady, aged 27, of Castle Green, Prengwyn, Llandysul, represented himself when he appeared before Aberystywth magistrates on Wednesday morning.

He pleaded guilty to driving on the Prengwyn Road on February 15 while over the legal drink drive limit.

The court heard that police came across a van which had crashed and overturned on the single track road, while officers were on patrol in the area at 11.35pm.

The vehicle’s headlamps were on and O’Grady was seen climbing out of the driver’s door. He admitted to police he had been driving at the time of the accident.

Tom Scapens, prosecuting, said: “He was slurring his words and his eyes were bloodshot. The officer took hold of him out of fear he would fall over. There was no-one else in the vehicle.”

O’Grady was taken to Aberystwyth police station and found to have 68mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

In interview he stated there was no-one else involved in the accident, and said he was ‘very sorry’ for what he had done. He told police he had drunk two pints of cider and a vodka, and drove out of ‘panic’.

The court heard that O’Grady a mobile farrier, had driven to catch his horse which had become loose and was out on the road.

O’Grady was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £400. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £40 victim surcharge.

The presiding magistrate said: “You’re business is probably going to suffer because you are not able to travel. It’s been a hard earned lesson for you and I hope it’s the first and last hard lesson you will have to learn from court.”