A PANEL beater from Bideford has been disqualified from driving for more than three years after being caught three times over the drink drive limit.

Maurice Mansell, 52, of Pynes Lane, Bideford, was caught behind the wheel of his car on January 12.

He pleaded guilty to failing to stop at a road accident and driving when over the alcohol limit when he appeared at North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday.

When he was breathalysed the reading showed Mansell had 106 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath — the legal limit is 35.

Defending solicitor Jen Law explained her client drove from Braunton to Bideford soon after 9pm, having had a few drinks. As he pulled into his road he knocked a car parked on the corner.

The owners of the car he had damaged knew who had caused it as they could see damage to Mansell's own vehicle. Police then become involved and Mansell was breathalysed.

Miss Law added: "The defendant has recently taken over a struggling car body repair business in Braunton and has been under considerable stress trying to make it work. The stress could have contributed to his actions that night."

Magistrates took into account that he had previously been disqualified from driving in 2003, also for being under the influence of alcohol.

They sentenced the defendant to 60 hours of unpaid work, an £85 fine and disqualified him from driving for 40 months.