A JOURNEY of just 20 metres in his van has landed a gardener a “devastating” 24-month ban for drink-driving.

Ashley Botwood, 38, of Springfield Avenue, Bromsgrove, appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday (April 13) and pleaded guilty to drink driving.

He was caught behind the wheel in Tenbury Wells on Saturday, March 21, with 105mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – exactly three times the legal limit of 35mcg.

Mark Soper, prosecuting, told the court: “At about 11.30pm police saw the vehicle being driven on a public car park.

“The officers noted that the vehicle seemed to see the marked police car, parked up and turned off the lights.

“Police approached the vehicle and a roadside test was positive.”

Joanne Outhwaite, mitigating, said: “He has made a guilty plea at the first available opportunity and has no previous convictions of any kind.

“He had been out but had not intended to drive later and had arranged for someone to pick him up.

“When he parked on the car park it was quite full and he had to park at the back where it was secluded and not very light.

“At 11.30pm, when the car park was much clearer, he moved his vehicle towards the front in the hope of preventing it being broken into.

“It was just 15 or 20-metres and there was limited chance of coming into contact with members of the public.

“He is self-employed and the effect of a disqualification is going to be devastating, as he has to travel around with lots of heavy equipment.

“He has been extremely stressed by the whole situation and a ban is going to cause him considerable difficulties and have an impact on his income.

“Considering the shortness of the driving, the time of night and the impact it going to have, I hope you will keep it to an absolute minimum.”

Sue Dowty, chairman of the bench, disqualified Botwood from driving for 24 months, imposed a 16-week curfew from 8pm to 6am and ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £65.