A MAN was caught drink-driving after he rushed to the roadside of a car crash which his wife had been involved in.

Theodor Geamanu, 46, of Aylestone Hill, Hereford pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Hereford Magistrates Court.

Nicola Ritchie, prosecuting, said there was a crash at 5pm on December 15 on the A465 in Wormbridge.

Police arrived and closed off the northbound carriageway and officers were directing traffic.

She said officers became aware of a man who had driven past the police officer controlling traffic and then turned into the closure, mounting a kerb onto a grass area.

Geamanu got out of the car and told the police officer he was worried about his wife who had been involved in the crash.

He smelled of alcohol and a roadside breath test was taken. He had 80mg of alcohol in his breath - the legal limit is 35mg.

Emily Gourley, defending, said Geamanu had no previous convictions.

She said: "By way of explanation, he was at home drinking whisky, waiting for his wife to come back from work.

"It was their anniversary. He had bought her a present and was anxiously awaiting her arrival. He received a call from her, hysterical, to say she had been in an accident. He heard the sirens. She said she was hurt."

Ms Gourley said Geamanu made the "wrong decision" and decided to drive to where his wife was. He apologised for his actions.

Geamanu was fined £480, ordered to pay court costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £48. He was disqualified from driving for 19 months.