Latvian, 25, found to be two times over the limit

A LATVIAN who works at a North Devon cheese factory has been disqualified from driving after being caught two times over the drink-drive limit.

Edgars Bondarenko, 25, of Burnstone Farm, Higher Clovelly, Bideford, pleaded guilty to the charge of driving when over the legal alcohol limit when he appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Prosecutor Ben Winzer said the defendant had been stopped by the police after a member of the public called to say a vehicle had crashed into a bank on the A39 at Bucks Cross on Sunday, December 2.

Mr Winzer added: "He told police he had been with friends and consumed some lager, he was driving home when he felt the rear tyre puncture and lost control of the vehicle and ended up in the hedge."

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Police breathalysed him and found he had 79 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Bondarenko, who was unrepresented, said: "I go to my friends and had three beers and then drive home. I did not think I was over the limit."

He added that he had not eaten a lot that week so it may have affected his alcohol tolerance.

The defendant was fined a total of £165, told to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.

He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months.