A pub argument following a flower delivery led to a drink-driver taking to the road in a HGV.

David Sydney Goulstone, of Linden Grove, Hayling Island, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to driving a Daf HGV while over the legal alcohol limit, when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, May 7.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said police could smell alcohol when they went to speak to Goulstone, who was parked in a layby on the A477 at Sageston, at 10.10pm on April 18.

He was found to have 69mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

Mr Pritchard-Jones, said: “An aggravating factor is that it was an articulated lorry, and it was on the main trunk road.”

Goulstone, 47, told officers that he had been delivering flowers in the area, and got into his lorry following an argument with a couple of men in a pub.

He stated that he drove away because he feared for his safety after being assaulted.

The court heard that he cooperated fully with police, and had not being parked in the layby for long.

Jonathan Webb, defending, said: “He had been assaulted, jumped in to the truck having consumed alcohol and drove away. He found a layby, pulled in and was going to stay there for the remainder of the night.”

Mr Webb added: “He put his hands up straight away.”

“There are going to be ramifications for this man. He is now unemployed.”

Mr Webb stated that Goulstone would be unable to continue working as a self-employed HGV driver, and would have to sell his house as he would not be able to pay the mortgage.

“He is going to lose everything today.”

Magistrates fined Goulstone £140 and banned him from driving for 22 months.

He was ordered to pay £85 costs plus a £30 surcharge.