A POWYS teenager has been banned from driving for more than two years after he stole a car and drove it after consuming alcohol.

Joshua Woodcock was found to be over the limit when he was stopped by police on a rural road in a remote part of the county earlier this month.

Woodcock, 18, was stopped on the B4520 at Lower Chapel, near Builth Wells, on August 1. A roadside breath test revealed there to be 59 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms. It was also discovered that the silver Fiat Panda he was driving had been stolen.

Woodcock, of Maes-y-Ffynnon, Brecon, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and drink driving, in addition to driving without a licence and insurance, when he appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court on Friday, August 19.

For the initial two charges, Woodcock was ordered to carry out a 12-month community order by magistrates – this will include 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days as well as 65 hours of unpaid work.

For drink driving he was ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs and banned from driving for 16 months. He received a separate 12-month disqualification for the aggravated vehicle taking. He will be able to reduce his drink driving ban by 25 per cent if he completes a drink drive awareness course.

For driving without insurance he was fined £200; there was no separate penalty for driving without a licence.