A 'well thought of' accountant has been caught drink driving at close to twice the limit.

Jack James of Flax Close, Wychbold, admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 31-year-old was stopped in his Kia Niro in Worcester Road, Droitwich on December 10 last year. The evidential specimen, taken at the police station, was 69mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit of 35mcg.

Liz Blacklock, prosecuting, said James had no previous convictions. "This is the first time he appears before a court" she said.

Describing the circumstances of the offence, she said: "Police saw Mr James's car leaving the car park of a pub onto Worcester Road. They drove behind it before stopping it. Mr James told police he had finished his last alcoholic drink about two hours ago." A roadside breath test was positive before the evidential reading was obtained at the police station.

Paul Stanley, defending, said James had been at the pub 'for Christmas drinks as is usual around this time of year'.

"He had a number of pints to drink and, regrettably, got in the car and drove what was to be a short distance home" said Mr Stanley.

The solicitor said there was nothing in the manner of his client's driving which caused police to stop him and that he was 'fully compliant throughout the procedure'.

"He's well aware of the inevitability of disqualification" said Mr Stanley.

He went on to describe James as a father of a young child and 'an enterprising young man' working as an accountant for a local firm in the Droitwich area.

"He's extremely well thought of and a hard-working young man" said Mr Stanley who also said James was known for his charitable work.

"Any disqualification is going to cause a degree of hardship for him" said the solicitor. James had already sought out a six week driving course and magistrates were told: "He's unlikely to darken these doors again. He's sorry for wasting the court's time."

Magistrates banned him from driving for 17 months. However, he was offered the drink driver's rehabilitation course. If completed successfully and at the defendant's own expense, this will have the effect of reducing the length of the disqualification by 17 weeks.

The bench fined him £525 and ordered him to pay a £53 statutory victim surcharge and £135 prosecution costs.