A DRINK driver who abandoned his car in the middle of the central reservation of a busy Worcester road will now have to do unpaid work.
Cole Gallagher, of Victoria Road, Malvern, committed the offence in a works van he was not authorised to drive at the time, magistrates heard.
Owen Beale, prosecuting, said on October 22 police saw a Mercedes Benz van parked on the central reservation of Malvern Road not far from Powick roundabout.
Gallagher was spoken to by officers who noticed he was "clearly drunk" and wasn't able to give an explanation for his unusual parking.
After failing the roadside breathalyser test Gallagher was taken to the police station where the evidential specimen he provided was 110mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit being 35mcg.
Mr Beale said Gallagher was employed by Worcester firm Enviromontel which had provided the vehicle to him which was fitted with a tracker.
The prosecutor said the firm used it to monitor its vehicle was only being used for work purposes.
The prosecutor explained as the journey that day was not authorised that led to the defendant also being charged with taking the vehicle without permission.
Gallagher, who admitted drink driving and taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent, was represented by Judith Kenney.
Mrs Kenney said the offence was committed when Gallagher had been drinking on a Sunday afternoon watching football, but drove out to the firm's yard to collect kit he needed for work the following day.
"He couldn't explain why he did that," the solicitor said.
"He had not watched what he was drinking.
"In drink sometimes judgment goes out the window."
The solicitor said the consequences of the offence would be huge on him as he had now lost the employment.
Kevin Lloyd-Wright, chairman of the magistrates bench, said: "You were not in any accident, but with that amount of alcohol in your system who knows what could have happened."
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The chairman said the mandatory ban length for the drink-drive offence was a year but, due to the seriousness, he was being banned for 26 months.
The defendant was offered the chance to do the drink drive awareness course to reduce the ban period.
Gallagher was given a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 130 hours of unpaid work.
The defendant was also ordered to pay £135 costs and £114 victim surcharge - the total of £249 to be paid in 28 days.
The case was heard at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, (November 21).
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