A PENSIONER who was nearly twice the drink-drive limit when he shunted another driver on the way to a car boot sale confessed he had been “silly”.

Michael Jones, aged 75, of Stallard Road, near the Martley turn in Worcester, admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester.

Jones crashed into the back of another driver at the Ketch roundabout on the A4440 in St Peter’s in Worcester on August 11. Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, said: “The driver of that other vehicle when approaching him could smell intoxicants on his breath and, as a result of that, contacted the police.” A roadside breath test revealed 97mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

He was arrested and taken to Kidderminster Police Station where the evidential reading of 66mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath was recorded, nearly twice the limit of 35mcg. In police interview he said he had consumed three pints of lager and a quantity of vodka the previous day. The next day he had been driving to a car boot sale when the minor accident happened. Miss Ashton said: “He says he misjudged his driving and struck the other vehicle. He said ‘“I’ve been a bit silly”.”

David Adams, defending, said Jones had never had a single endorsement on his licence in more than 50 years of driving. He told magistrates: “I would ask you to consider that unblemished driving record which has been held for over 50 years.” He also said Jones had entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and had co-operated with the police. Magistrates fined him £200 and ordered him to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20. He declined the court’s offer of a drink-drive course which would have reduced the length of his 18 month driving ban.

Jones offered to pay fines and costs in full within 28 days of the hearing.