A DRINK driver had been drowning his sorrows after his mum’s funeral before he was spotted swerving all over the road and nearly crashing his car.

Keith Williams was close to three times the drink drive limit when he was stopped by police in Roman Way, Droitwich.

The 58-year-old of Droitwich Road, Fernhill Heath, near Worcester admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester.

Williams was stopped by police in his Ford Fiesta on July 15. A breath test revealed 101mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mcg.

Roger Bleazard, prosecuting, said: “Officers observed a vehicle swerving across the road, clipping a kerb and almost having a crash.”

Barry Newton, defending, said Williams’s mother died on June 18 after suffering a fatal stroke but the funeral in Telford had been delayed because some members of her family had asked for a post mortem to be carried out.

After the service Williams had ‘a couple of beers and a Jack Daniels’ before he was driven by a friend to the Blackpole Inn in Worcester where he had two or three more pints.

Mr Newton said Williams was asked by a friend if he wanted someone to collect him but declined the offer, saying he would walk to his home in Fernhill Heath.

He added: “He can’t remember much after that regrettably. It would appear from the police report he has taken his car back into the village of Fernhill Heath.

"There was a slight collision in the car park of the Spar next to where the post office was. He does not know why he got in the car. Such was his state of mind and the dramatic events of that day, he’s in drink and not thinking clearly and has driven off in the direction of Droitwich.”

He drove past his home towards Droitwich. Mr Newton said Williams worked as a delivery driver and had not yet told his employers about what had happened.

The father-of-two had been prescribed anti-depressants prior to the death of his mother and was on heavy painkillers for a slipped disc, Mr Newton said. He said Williams had been in a state of ‘genuine distress’ and had not eaten at all that day.

“He’s remorseful he did what he did. I would hope the court can show some compassion and move out of the sentencing guidelines” said Mr Newton.

The Arrow XL driver was deemed unsuitable for unpaid work because of problems with his back.

He was fined £300, ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £30. Williams was banned from driving for 24 months but was offered a course which he must pay for himself.

This will reduce the length of the disqualification. The effect of completing the course will be that the ban ends on February 15, 2019 instead of August 2, 2019.