A TEACHER who works with children with learning difficulties almost collided with a police car on his way back from a football awards dinner where he had been drinking.

Nyasha Mwamuka, 24, said he’d had just one pint of cider and a vodka mixer when the incident occurred on a windy stretch of the B4389 between New Mills and Tregynon in the early hours of June 4.

Dyfed Powys Police officer PC Wright said he was confronted by a red BMW being driven by the defendant straddling the central white line of the road as he approached a left-hand bend at around 1am. The officer thought a collision was “inevitable” but the two cars narrowly avoided each other, before Mwamuka sped off.

PC Wright said the speed Mwamuka was driving at suggested he was trying to evade capture. He was caught and arrested after a positive roadside breath test. A reading of 56 micrograms of alcohol was produced by the driver – the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Mwamuka, of Cae Melyn, Newtown, admitted drink driving at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 21.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said the incident happened shortly before 1am. She said: “PC Wright was driving along the B4389 driving into Llanfair Caereinion, as he was approaching a sharp left-hand bend he could see a vehicle approaching.

“He could see a red car straddling the white centre line by half a car length. He thought a collision was inevitable but they narrowly avoided each other. He turned around and followed. He caught up with the driver at New Mills; the speed suggested he was trying to evade him.

“When asked about the near miss, the defendant said ‘oh, sorry’. He said he had drunk a pint of cider and a vodka mixer. He had been to a football awards dinner.”

Ms Tench said Mwamuka had no previous convictions.

Acting for the defendant, Owain Jones said: “There was no attempt to evade detection, he gave honest answers on his arrest.

“He cooperated fully, to his own detriment, he admitted drinking alcohol. As for the manner of driving, he admits he was probably going too fast. They are very windy roads.

“It has come as a shock to him that he’s going to be banned. He lives in Tregynon and works with children with learning difficulties in Kerry. It will be very difficult to get from one rural village to the other."

Magistrates banned Mwamuka for 14 months – a disqualification he can reduce by 14 weeks if he completes a drink driving course.

He must also pay a £275 fine as well as £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.