A local man, who drove for a living, has lost his job and his licence after being caught drink driving.

Richard Meurig Jones, aged 48, of Cware Fach, Aberycych, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit, when he appeared before Aberystwyth magistrates on Wednesday.

The court heard that police officers on duty in Newcastle Emlyn at 2.30am on February 12, spotted a van travelling up Sycamore Street.

The driver appeared unsteady on his feet as he got out and walked towards the kebab shop.

A roadside breath test gave a positive reading, and Jones was found to have 78mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when taken to the police station. The legal limit is 35mg.

The court heard that Jones had a previous disqualification for drink driving in 2012.

Alan Lewis, defending, said: “My client has started to get his life back on track and moderate his drinking.

“He went out and had four pints earlier, he had no food all day, but ironically he stopped to get food when the police saw him.

“He genuinely thought he would be ok to drive.”

Mr Lewis told the court that his client drove for a living and had been sacked by his employer as a result of the offence, and had recently moved to be closer to work.

He added: “It’s a punishment that he will have to take on the chin.

“His life has now been turned upside down as a result of this very foolish act. He feels he has let himself down and let his family down.”

Jones was disqualified from driving for 36 months and fined £110. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.