A CHIRK man was twice over the drink drive limit when he crashed his friends Jaguar on the A483 in Ruabon.

Nicky Meirion Suckley, 25, of Coronation Drive, admitted that charge and also to driving while on a provisional license and not having insurance, after the incident on October 25.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told North East Wales Magistrates that it was just after midnight when police responded to reports of a vehicle colliding with the central reservation of the A483 between junctions one and two.

He said how Suckley admitted to officers at the scene how he only held a provisional driving license and when he took a breathalyser was found to have 70 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - with the limit being 35.

Suckley also pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to attend court last week.

Ceri Lewis, defending, told the court her client had walked home after being released from custody on the night of his arrest and that the paperwork with the date of his court hearing on had become saturated in the heavy downpour of rain.

Ms Lewis said the first Suckley had known about the missed hearing was when police rang him on Friday and ordered him to attend Llay police station on Saturday, which he did do, despite the snowfall.

She went on to say how he was utterly ashamed of his act of stupidity which had also resulted in the Jaguar being declared a write-off following the crash.

Probation officer Miriam Arton told the court that Suckley, who is currently unemployed, had only recently been given a council flat in Chirk after being homeless for around six months.

She went on to say how he had a problem with drink in that he didn’t know when to stop after he’d started.

Chair of Magistrates Andy Stubbs told Suckley he had been lucky he hadn’t suffered serious injury in the crash or caused the same to other road users due to the fact a lorry had had to take evasive action in the immediate aftermath.

He handed him an 18 month driving ban and told him to complete a 12 month community order, which includes a provision to work 80 hours of unpaid work. Suckley must also pay £140 in fines and £180 in other court related costs.