A drink-driver was warned he could have caused a fatal major incident when he crashed into a field after collecting a takeaway.

William James Robb, of St Davids Road, Letterston, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit when he appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, March 19.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said members of the public reported Robb’s Renault Megane because of concerns about the way it was being driven on the A40 from Fishguard at 7pm on March 4.

“The vehicle was crossing the white line, touched the verge and almost hit a car coming the other way.”

Police officers arrived to find the car had left the road, crashed through a fence and come to a stop in a field at Trecwn.

Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “The defendant was in the driver’s seat. He was clearly intoxicated and had to be helped out of the car.”

Robb, 61, was found to have 90mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

He told officers he had consumed nine pints between 1pm and 6pm, and lost control of the vehicle after he decided to go to Fishguard to get an Indian takeaway.

Mr Pritchard-Jones added: “It was on a major trunk road. Clearly there was a significant risk to the public from his actions.”

Mark Layton, defending, said Robb was previously of clean character, and had been working as a courier, which he would be unable to continue.

“He had some personal difficulties and used alcohol as a coping mechanism. Clearly on this occasion he drank too far much and found himself in a collision.”

Magistrates banned Robb from driving for 28 months and imposed 120 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 surcharge.

The chairman of the bench said: “This is a very serious incident. You drank nine pints on your own admission and got behind the wheel of the car.

“There could have been a major accident and people could have been killed.”