A Pembrokeshire farmer has been ordered off the roads for 12 months after police found him driving his Land Rover Defender as he drank from an open can of Stella.
This week Sam Stafford, 24, of Clarbeston Farm, pleaded guilty to a charge of drink-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.
The court heard that soon after 8pm on February 23, police carried out a stop check on his vehicle as he drove it along the A478 at Llandissilio.
“There were three occupants in the car, including the defendant and there was an open can of Stella on the centre consul,” said Crown Prosecutor Kelly Rivers.
“The car was being driven by the defendant and the officers noticed that his eyes were red and glazed.”
A roadside breath test proved positive and Stafford was taken to the police station where he gave further intoximeter tests, the lowest reading being 42 mcg.
But this, said his solicitor Mr Michael Kelleher, was highly unfortunate.
“If he had given a reading of 39 mcg, he wouldn’t be here today,” he said.
“So he was just three points over the limit, which amounts to just under half a can of beer.”
Mr Kelleher went on to say that Stafford is a self employed farmer, who works in partnership with his father.
“Losing his driving licence is going to be difficult, particularly in the summer,” he said, “as some of the farmland is three miles away.”
Stafford was fined £250 and ordered to pay a £100 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
