A TEENAGE soldier found asleep in his car twice with the engine on, by a motorist and then a police officer, has been banned for drink driving.

Rifleman Alec Patrick Purslow, 18, was initially found asleep in his car with the lights on and the engine running just before midnight on October 24 on the B4362 near his home.

Purslow, of Stoneleigh House, Nash, near Presteigne, pleaded guilty to drink driving at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court on Wednesday, November 11.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies said motorist Oliver Pritchard discovered Purslow sleeping in the driver's seat of a black Ford Fiesta parked in the middle of the road at 11.30pm on the evening in question.

“The engine was running and the lights were on, the driver was asleep in the front seat,” said Mr Davies.

“Mr Pritchard made several attempts to wake him up, shouting loudly, and the driver told him ‘I’ve had way too much to drink’.

“He asked the driver if he wanted a lift home but he declined as he only lived 600 metres away. Mr Pritchard then saw the defendant drive off and mount a kerb and hit a road sign and called the police.

“PC Scott arrived and found the vehicle parked on the driveway of the defendant’s home address, with the engine still running. The defendant was still in it, asleep. He almost fell out when the door was opened.”

A roadside test was positive and a further sample found there to be 57 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of Purslow’s breath – the legal limit being 35mcgs.

“The defendant said he’d been out in Hereford, had begun drinking at 8pm and stopped at 10pm,” added Mr Davies.

“He had one pint of lager and two to four single vodka and orange juices. He had taken his sister home, he then drove round a roundabout and ‘then it kicked in’. He said he went home and took a breather and the next thing he knew the police were there.”

Acting for the defendant, Gareth Walters said his client was in the Army and provided a letter from his commander, while a senior officer also accompanied him in court.

“He has been part of the Army operation working during Covid-19 and is more of a key worker than anyone who’s appeared in court during that time," he said.

“He was required to use a vehicle for that but his job in general does not require him to drive. He strikes me as a young man who would seek to do the best he can and this was out of character.

“Mercifully, it happened late at night, on a country road with no other vehicles involved. It’s a shame to see him throw away his good work but hopefully he can put this behind him.”

Chairman of the bench Geraint Evans told Purslow: “The Army is a proud and worthwhile cause, thank you for joining. But there is a degree of maturity required here.”

Magistrates disqualified Purslow from driving for 16 months but referred him to the drink drive awareness course, which will reduce his ban by four months if completed successfully. He was fined £350 fine and must pay £85 costs and a £35 surcharge.