A ‘foolish’ decision to buy electricity led to a lengthy ban for a drink-driver who was nearly three times the limit.

Leigh Holmes, of John Lewis Street, Hakin, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit when he appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, April 23.

Stephen Mallison, prosecuting, said officers could immediately smell alcohol when they stopped Holmes’ Nissan Qashquai on the A4076 at Johnston at 3.15am on April 6.

Holmes, 24, who had a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2014, was found to have 100mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

The court heard that Holmes consumed three or four pints of lager while drinking at home, before driving to a shop to buy a gas and electricity top-up, and thought he would be under the legal limit.

Jonathan Webb, defending, said Holmes a labourer, had admitted the matter at the first opportunity.

“On the night in question he had been working until the early hours. He had gone home and had a couple of drinks. The electricity tripped and very foolishly he jumped in the car to get an electricity card.”

Mr Webb added that Holmes feared he could lose his employment with a sub-contractor as a result of losing his licence.

Magistrates banned Holmes from driving for 42 months and imposed a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £170 in costs and a surcharge.

The chairman of the bench said: “This is the second disqualification within a ten year period.

“This was a very high reading.”