A drunk-driver who collided with a lamppost and council gritter has been banned from the road for 17 months.

Matthew Grant Salter-Jones, of Woodbine Way, Hakin, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, May 1.

Abul Hussain, prosecuting, told the court that police received a call reporting that a car had collided with a Milford Haven lamppost and driven off on March 2.

He added that the Audi A4 also hit the rear of a gritting lorry.

Salter-Jones, 28, told officers he was driving down the road and was unable to stop the car in time to avoid the collision. He added that he had intended to contact the council about the incident.

Tests revealed he had 66mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

Mark Layton, defending, said: “He did make an admission at the roadside that he was responsible for the damage and cooperated with the police.”

Mr Layton told the bench that the loss of his licence would make it difficult for him to get to the farm he worked at.

Magistrates fined Salter-Jones £200 and banned him from driving for 17 months.

He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

The chairman of the bench said: “Obviously you did a very foolish thing. If the gritters were out it was obviously a very slippery road that you were on.”