A DRIVER told police he was "well over the limit" when he was pulled over on a busy Herefordshire main road, a court has heard.

Ryan Michael Giggsy Gillespie admitted drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Prosecutor Mark Hambling said police had decided to follow the 25-year-old as he drove a Peugeot 207 on the A49 at Dinmore Hill at around 10pm on October 22 after spotting him swerving in the lane and over the white lines.

He was pulled over and was arrested after telling officers that he would not lie, he was "well over the limit".

An evidential breath test in custody revealed Gillespie had 54 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

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Edmund Middleton, for Gillespie, said the ground worker knew he had made a mistake and understood the consequences.

"He has worked in Staunton-on-Wye for the last four years and that 10 miles from his home to his job is now a knife-edge, as it will be very difficult for him to get there," Mr Middleton said.

The court heard a mandatory driving ban would also impact his ability to help his grandparents and other family members.

"This was a really daft bit of decision making. He has let people down by that foolish decision, and he accepts that," Mr Middleton said.

"He admits he had drunk a couple of Carlsbergs, a pink gin, and a Jaeger at the Rose and Crown pub and said he was just going for a drive to clear his head that night. He is acutely aware of how stupid this was."

Gillespie, of Geldof Grove, Hereford, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £175. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.