A banned driver who had two young children in the back of his car was almost three times over the legal limit when he was approached by a police officer in Llangurig.

Gerwyn Neil Matthews was given a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, and drink driving at Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, March 30.

The court heard that a witness saw a Mercedes car "braking sharply and swerving in the road" on the A489 outside Newtown at around 11.30pm on August 31, 2020.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, told the court that the witness asked his partner to ring the police to say that the vehicle was "all over the road" believing him to be drunk.

The court heard that when a police officer approached the Mercedes in a layby in Llangurig, he noticed a strong smell of alcohol.

Matthews told the officer that he was not driving and that he had stopped to change a tyre.

"The defendant insisted that he was not driving and that the female occupant was driving and that he was disqualified," Ms Tench added.

"The female had a tyre on her lap and there were two small children in the car and another female who appeared to be asleep."

Matthews was then arrested. Following caution he said "Don't worry. It's alright, I was driving. It was all me, butt".

He was taken to a police station for a breath test which read 100 microgrammes of alcohol when the limit is 35.

Ms Tench said that camera footage in Deeside found a male driver and female passenger in the vehicle. The court heard that Matthews had been caught drink driving and driving whilst disqualified in 2015 and 2018.

Ben Garvey, defending, said the 42-year-old sales executive "fully accepts he was on a downward spiral" adding that he was "struggling considerably with alcohol and his mental health."

Since a conviction in December 2020, Matthews has been doing "very well" with complying with alcohol treatment ordered by the court.

Mr Garvey told the court that Matthews has also been working with a drug and alcohol team based in south Wales. He added that Matthews was "battling his own demons" and that his drinking was "under control".

"He feels he is on the right track for the first time in a very long time. Sending him into custody would have detrimental effect and send him backwards. Of course, he has to be punished but there are other ways to do that."

Matthews, of Glanmor, Briton Ferry, was given a 24-week suspended custodial sentence for 24 months including 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a three-month curfew from 8am to 8pm every Saturday and Sunday. He was fined £85 for costs and £128 victim surcharge.

Chair of magistrates Nerys Jones told Matthews: "The exceptional reasons for not imposing prison today is that the suspended sentence currently in place has worked up to now."