A 53-year-old lorry driver from Newent has been banned from driving for 13 months at Cheltenham Magistrates Court.

Mark Malone of Lakeside, Newent, admitted driving his Jaguar XJ with excess alcohol on October 21 this year on the Tewkesbury Road, near Longford. He gave a reading of 45mcgs in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Malone was also ordered to pay court costs, fines and surcharges totalling £525.

Prosecutor Joanna Packer told the court: "At about 4pm on the afternoon of Saturday, October 21, the police began to follow a Jaguar motor vehicle after receiving reports that the driver was likely to have consumed alcohol.

"When they stopped him he failed the roadside breath test, and was taken to the station where the lowest reading in breath was 45mg."

Miss Packer confirmed that Malone had "no recent or relevant previous convictions."Malone, who was not represented by a solicitor, told the court: "This was totally against my character.

"I'm a HGV driver. I am an idiot for doing what I did. I mucked up.

"I am ashamed to be stood here in court. I do apologise" he said.

The chair of the bench, Jeff McNally, said: "For this offence you must be disqualified from driving for 13 months. If you complete the driver's rehabilitation course, that disqualification will be reduced by 98 days.

"You must not drive any motor vehicle on a public highway. It is a very serious offence to do so. There will also be a financial penalty," Mr McNally said.

When asked how soon he could pay the £525, and whether he needed 28 days to pay, Malone said "I can pay that now."