A DRINK-DRIVER crashed his car after sharing a bottle of vodka with his sister, a court has heard.

Jan Antoni Ociepka admitted driving under the influence of alcohol when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Prosecutor Nicola Ritchie said Ociepka was arrested after crashing his Fiat Bravo into another car on Newtown Lane, Leominster, at 1.15pm on October 7.

The driver of the other car told police she had been driving along the single track lane at about 20 miles per hour when she saw Ociepka heading towards her at speed.

She braked and pulled over to the side of the road, but Ociepka did not slow down and drove straight into her car.

Neither the driver nor her 11 month old child, who was also in the car, were injured in the crash, which caused substantial front end damage to both cars

Ociepka told police he had drunk alcohol earlier that day, and a breathalyser revealed he had 95 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

A report was carried out by the probation service, who said Ociepka had been drinking that morning at his home in Barons Cross, Leominster, in celebration of his friend's wedding in Poland.

He had shared a half litre bottle of vodka with his sister, and had also drunk a can of lager before getting behind the wheel a few hours later, after a friend asked if he could take them their medication.

Turkey farm worker Ociepka said he does not often drink and thought he would be able to drive.

Ociepka was handed a 12 month community order, 120 hours unpaid work, and disqualified from driving for 24 months. He was ordered to pay costs of £135 and a £90 victim surcharge.