A COMMERCIAL DIVER appeared before magistrates in Llanelli on Thursday (Mar 17) charged with drink driving.
Nigel Picton, 54, of Maes yr Haf, Cross Hands, pleaded guilty to the incident, which took place on March 4.
Prosecuting, Sian Vaughan said that Picton had attended the Carmarthen Road Health Centre at around midday, and concerns were raised with the police that he may be driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Officers caught up with Picton near his home address, and after failing a roadside breath test, a sample was taken which showed an alcohol level of 48mcg per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.
Defending, Richard Griffiths said that Picton had been picking a prescription up for a family member, and that the surgery was around half a mile from his house.
Mr Griffiths said that Picton had been drinking lager the night before, and had not thought that he would be over the limit.
He added that Picton works as a commercial diver in Qatar on a month on month off basis, and suggested that working for a month in a ‘dry country’ possibly made it more likely that he would drink when at home.
He pointed out that no criticism had been made of Picton’s driving.
Magistrates disqualified Picton from driving for 12 months, and ordered him to pay fines and costs totalling £690.
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