An Audi driver who had met up with a friend for a couple of pints was taken to hospital after flipping his car on its side.

Kevin Stone, 56, was found sheltering in a doorway by police officers following the collision on the B4393 at Four Crosses on February 6 this year. The court heard that no one else was injured.

The “well-thought-of” bricklayer from Four Crosses was given a 12-month driving ban after he pleaded guilty to drink driving at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, April 26.

“We’ve not disqualified you; you’ve disqualified yourself,” the chair, Jeff Bull, told Stone.

Prosecutor Justin Espie said police received a report of a road traffic collision where a vehicle was laying on its side.

“Police arrived at scene to find an Audi on its side and the defendant sheltering in a doorway. He admitted having a couple of drinks earlier and didn’t recall anything of the collision.”

Stone’s urine test result found that there were 149 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres, the legal limit is 107.

Steve Williams, acting for Stone, said the 56-year-old was “genuinely remorseful”.

“On that occasion he met up with a friend and he believed he had no more than couple of pints, but he did feel very confused.”

The court was told that Stone suffered a serious head injury in November 2013 which needed brain surgery. He voluntarily stopped driving.

Mr Williams said: “He does not know if it was his head injury. Regardless of what happened, he is not trying to deflect from that.

“He feels that not only has he let himself down, but the people around him. He supports his family, the hub of the family who looks after them and makes it as easy for them as he can.

“He is a bricklayer and it is very difficult to work without car. He is well thought of and it shows the measure of the man is that he’s reluctant to have someone to go out of their way to help him.

“No one was injured in the collision. He was shook up. The first thing he did after hospital was to apologise to the couple and that they were recompensed.”

Magistrates disqualified Stone from driving for 12 months and ordered him to pay a £600 fine, £85 prosecution costs and a £60 victim surcharge.