A MAN who was caught driving more than four times the legal alcohol limit was spared a prison sentence when he appeared before Worcester Magistrates Court.

Kevin Thompson was seen driving down Cumberland Street, Worcester by a police officer before his vehicle mounted the curb as it drove round the corner, said Douglas Marshall, prosecuting.

Two men then got out of the car, and the officer noticed Thompson, aged 41, was unsteady on his feet, then smelled alcohol on his breath, said the prosecutor.

A roadside breath test revealed that Thompson had 147mcg in 100ml of breath when the offence took place on Sunday, May 30.

The legal limit is 35mcg.

Charles Hamer, defending, said his client's alcohol reading was high and Thompson accepted he might be given a custodial sentence for the offence.

Pints

"He drank three pints of lager at a pub about 44 metres from where the police saw him and about 400 metres from his home," said Mr Hamer.

Mr Hamer said Thompson's sister had told Thompson his girlfriend had miscarried, and that had upset him.

Thompson, of Lansdowne Road, Worcester admitted driving with alcohol above the legal limit, and driving with no insurance at a previous hearing.

He was disqualified from driving for three years, and placed on a two-year Community Rehabilitation order.

He was ordered to pay £43 court costs and fined £150 fine for the insurance offence at yesterday's hearing.