Taking to the road the morning after a drink proved costly for a van driver who lost his licence for 14 months.

Darren Lewis, of Cwrt y Coed, Blackwood, pleaded guilty to driving a Volkswagon Krafter while over the legal alcohol level when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, April 24.

The court heard that Lewis’ van was stopped by police on Holyland Road, Pembroke, at 8.25am on April 5, after committing a minor traffic offence.

Officers could smell alcohol, and Lewis, 31, was found to have 59mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

Mike Kelleher, defending, said: “Mr Lewis had been drinking the night before and felt okay to be driving, but quite clearly he was not, perhaps that’s a lesson for a lot of people.”

Magistrates banned Lewis from driving for 14 months and fined him £400. He was also ordered to pay £125 in costs and a surcharge.