A 28-year-old man has been banned from driving for 14 months after he was found passed out over the steering wheel of his car with the engine running, a court heard.

Nicholas Smith, of The Anchor, Shropshire, admitted drink driving on the A489 between Caersws and Penstrowed at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, July 30.

Smith was found to have 58 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the limit being 35.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, told the court that on July 11, a member of the public reported to the police that a car was driving “erratically”.

The car found outside an entrance to a farm, and Smith was “slumped over the steering wheel with the engine running”, the court heard.

Smith had stopped at the Red Lion in Llanidloes for a drink, Ms Tench said.

Stephen Scully, defending, said that he couldn’t say why Smith decided to drive, but that he was working seven days a week and that his partner recently gave birth to their son, who is nine weeks old.

Mr Scully said he “foolishly” went for a few drinks and drove, and that he is “facing the consequences of his actions.”

The court heard that Smith works as an agricultural engineer.

Magistrates banned Smith from driving for 14 months.

He was also told to pay a total of £671, made up of a £533 fine, court costs and victim surcharge.