A drink-driver’s keys were confiscated by a member of the public after he fell over on his way back to his car.

David Witchell, of Courtfield Drive, Simpsons Cross, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, September 18.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court Witchell drove his Vauxhall Astra into a filling station on the A40, bought some food then fell over after walking out on August 30.

When interviewed he stated the fall was probably a combination of being intoxicated and a weak ankle.

A customer took Witchell’s keys from him when he suspected he was under the influence of alcohol and the cashier called the police.

Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “Police spoke to the defendant and said he smelt heavily of intoxicants. He was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred.”

Witchell, 35, stated at the scene: “I was driving, I should not be, I’m sorry.”

He added that he drank two cans of lager and three or four small glasses of rum at home, then decided to buy some food.

“He said it was a stupid thing to do, he knew he had been drinking and should not be driving.”

He was found to have 74mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, more than double the legal limit of 35mg.

Jonathan Webb, defending, said Witchell had previously been of clean character.

“Having been drinking, for some very foolish reason, he decided that he needed to purchase some more items.”

The court heard that Witchell was a health care support worker, but was currently on long-term sick-leave after suffering a rugby injury which had resulted in several operations.

Mr Webb added that transport would become difficult for Witchell as he lived in a rural area.

“There will be significant repercussions for what is essentially a moment of madness on the night in question.”

Magistrates described the character references they were handed as ‘touching’, before deciding to be ‘as lenient as possible’.

The chairman of the bench said: “It is quite clear that this is totally out of character, you are clearly a very good person and a very caring person.”

Witchell was banned from driving for 17 months and fined £100. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £30 surcharge.