A DRINK driver was close to three times the limit when stopped by police in Worcester because he had no headlights on and was driving on a flat tyre.

Scott Newman drew the attention of officers in South Parade car park in Worcester because they heard the 'rumbling' sound of his flat tyre on the tarmac.

The 20-year-old admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday, his solicitor explaining that he had been drinking more than usual because he had recently lost a man he refers to as his granddad.

He was close to three times the limit when he was breathalysed at Worcester Police Station after officers saw him climb out of the driver's seat of his Vauxhall Corsa on June 8 this year.

Ralph Robyns-Landricombe, prosecuting, said officers were in Copenhagen Street at 2.15am when 'they heard a loud rumbling which was recognised as the sound of a flat tyre rolling on tarmac."

Newman drove into the car park with no lights. Two passengers were seen to get out of the car.

A reading of 90mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath was recorded at the roadside so the defendant was arrested and taken to Worcester Police Station. There an evidential reading of 98mcg in 100ml of breath, the lower of the two readings, was recorded. This is 2.8 times the legal limit of 35mcg.

"He made comments admitting the offence on numerous occasions throughout his arrest and his time in custody" said Mr Robyns-Landricombe.

Newman has previous convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray from 2017, the prosecutor told the court.

Sumreen Afsar, defending, said her client had entered a timely guilty plea and had co-operated with police at the roadside. Ms Afsar said: "He has recently lost someone he refers to as his granddad. He has known him for the majority of his life. He lost him earlier this year and, as a result of that, he has been drinking a lot more than he should on a regular basis."

She said that Newman initially he had no intention of driving but one of the girls he was with asked if he could drop her off and he said 'yep, that's fine'.

The solicitor explained that he was also a carer for his father and grandfather.

John Hill, chairman of the bench, said there were some aggravating features, including the high reading, the flat tyre, the fact the car was being driven without the lights and that he was carrying passengers.

Magistrates made a community order with a requirement that Newman of Edwin Crescent, Bromsgrove, complete 120 hours of unpaid work. Newman was banned from driving for 24 months. However, he was offered the drink impaired drivers course. If completed successfully this will shave 25 per cent off the length of the ban.

The course, which he must pay for himself, must be completed by November 27, 2022.

If he finishes it, the ban will end on January 27, 2023 instead of July 14, 2023. Magistrates ordered him to pay £135 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

"We're hoping this is a one-off aberration" said Mr Hill.