A 26-YEAR-old man, originally stopped about his speed by police, turned out to be a drink driver.
Joshua Harris, of Ronkswood Hill, Worcester, was given a lengthy ban when he appeared before Worcester magistrates.
Lauren Millichip, prosecuting, said Harris was driving a Vauxhall Astra when he came to the attention of police due to his speed.
"When they stopped him they had cause to believe he was over the drink-drive limit," the prosecutor said.
After failing a roadside breathalyser test he was taken to the police station giving an evidential specimen of breath of 66mcg in 100m of breath.
The drink-drive limit is 35mcg.
The prosecutor added Harris told police he had only had two pints when they interviewed him about the matter.
She added the prosecutors may find the aggravating feature of the case was the "unacceptable standard of driving", due to police originally stopping him over his speed.
Harris, defending himself, said: "I made a stupid error.
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"It is my own fault, I have lost my job."
Harris explained he lost a driving job he got after wanting to move away from being a chef.
He said, with the inevitable loss of his licence, he was now being forced back into that profession.
The defendant also appealed to the magistrates for some compassion as he had no previous convictions.
Carey Leonard, chairman of the magistrates bench, disqualified Harris from driving for 18 months.
The chairman told Harris if he drove at any point during the ban period he could expect to go to prison.
Harris was offered the drink-drive awareness course which, if he successfully completes, will reduce the length of the ban by 18 weeks.
Harris was fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £135 and £48 victim surcharge.
Harris's offer to pay £101 a month to clear the total amount owed, £303, within three months was accepted by the magistrates.
The case was heard at Worcester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, (April 25).
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