A WELSHPOOL man has been banned for a year for being over the drink-drive limit.

Kalin Vasilev Daychev, 26, of Church Street, Welshpool, admitted the offence.

At Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday Daychev was charged with driving a car while over the limit on Salop Road in Welshpool on January 20. A breath test revealed he had 44 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, told the court that at 2.30am on January 20, PC Cross stopped the defendant in his car.

Daychev then had a breath test which came back positive and he was arrested, Ms Tench told magistrates.

The prosecution also told the court that Daychev had no previous convictions on file.

Paul Inns, defending, said Daychev pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and that he had no previous convictions in the UK or in his home country of Bulgaria, the court heard.

Mr Inns said Daychev was going to visit his girlfriend in Oldford where there was a party taking place, where he intended to stay.

However, Daychev decided to go to a 24-hour shop in Welshpool, the court heard.

Daychev’s first words to his solicitor were “I’m really sorry”, Mr Inns told magistrates.

The defence said that Daychev being penalised would “have a significant impact on him”, the court heard.

Welshpool magistrates heard that the defendant is a machine operator outside of Welshpool and that losing his driving licence could put his job at risk, the defence told the court.

Magistrates ordered Daychev to pay a total of £335, which includes a fine of £220. He has also been disqualified from driving for 12 months.

However, Daychev can get a three month reduction on his driving ban if he attends a drink-drive rehabilitation course within a certain time period – which he would have to pay for himself.