A MAN who crashed his girlfriend’s car near Foel had driven 100 miles while four times the drink-drive limit, a court heard.

Peter Edwin Lacy, 51, pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Rhian Jones, prosecuting, told the court that police were called to a one-vehicle accident on the A458 between Foel and Mallwyd at around 10pm on May 16.

There was damage to the car and a wall and debris on the road. Lacy was still behind the wheel and admitted he had been driving the car.

“The police noticed he smelt strongly of liquor and was unsteady on his feet,” said Ms Jones.

A breath test came back positive and Lacy was taken to Newtown Police Station where he provided further samples. A reading of 151 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath was recorded, well over the legal limit of 35.

When interviewed the next day, he told police he had driven from his home town of Nuneaton – 100 miles away.

The court also heard that Lacy, a transport manager, had no previous convictions and had never  had points on his licence.

Robert Hanratty, for Lacy, said: “He is polite and pleasant, hard working, law abiding. He can’t believe he has put himself in this situation.

“He is a man of impeccable character. This is a complete one-off.”

Julian Davies, from the probation service, told the court that the day before the incident, Lacy had been drinking heavily as it was the anniversary of his brother’s death.

Lacy had continued drinking the following day and decided to drive to visit relatives in Tywyn.

“He didn’t give any thought to being over the limit because he was too embroiled in his own issues,” said Mr Davies.

“He says this was an impulsive act of stupidity.”

Sentencing Lacy, the magistrates told him the highest reading on the sentencing guidelines was 150, meaning he was “at the top of the scale”.

He was sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for a year, and must complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

Lacy was also given a three-year driving ban, which could be reduced by a quarter if he completes a drink-drive awareness course. He must pay £85 costs and a £115 surcharge.