A POWYS man has been banned from the roads for nearly two years after he was found to be more than double the drink drive limit – nearly five hours after he was arrested.

Phillip Raymond Marsh Wilson, 61, came to the attention of police on April 23 this year after witnesses raised concerns when they found him sleeping at the wheel of his car near Newtown with a bloodied bandage wrapped around his head.

Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court heard this week how Wilson then drove off from the initial scene and was involved in a road traffic collision, before police eventually tracked him down near his home in Newbridge-on-Wye.

On Wednesday, September 15, Wilson pleaded guilty to drink driving and failing to stop after a road accident. A third charge of failing to report an accident was withdrawn.

Chairman of the bench, Simon Green, told him it was 'almost incredible' no-one was hurt during the incident.

Prosecutor Neil Catherall said: “At 5.30pm a call was received by police regarding concerns for the welfare of a man who was seen sleeping in his car near Tregynon.

“The man had a bandage round his head with blood on it. The car’s registration was noted down but the defendant then drove off towards Meifod. A road traffic collision was then reported, a note of the Mercedes’ number plate was taken and, it was same vehicle as the one earlier reported to police.

“At 6.30pm it was seen on the A483 travelling south towards Llandrindod Wells. PC Gareth Evans was near Llandrindod, looking for the vehicle. He saw it near Crossgates.

“He approached the vehicle and spoke to the defendant. He could see there was a blood-soaked bandage around his head.

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“There was a strong smell of intoxicants, so a breath test was requested. But the driver gave an insufficient reading and he was asked to get out. He was unsteady on his feet and the officer thought he was under the influence.

“No test was carried out but the defendant was arrested. The officer decided he needed to go to hospital. Staff problems meant a sample could not be taken there, so he was taken to Brecon Police Station where he was detained.

“A sample was obtained at 11pm and that was sent off for analysis. The reading came back showing there to be 174 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his blood – the legal limit is 80 milligrams.”

Paul Lewis, acting for Wilson, of Minffordd, Newbridge, said his client had cooperated with police “as much as he was able to”.

“He is 61 and has no previous convictions,” said Mr Lewis.

“His recollection is very limited. He accepts he has a problem with alcohol and he had been obtaining assistance from Kaleidoscope before this incident.

“He thinks he had a giddy fit and had fallen over. He has a vague recollection of falling over in the process of driving that day. He remembers two Samaritans stopping and bandaging his head. That’s about all he remembers.

“The collision involved catching a stationary vehicle’s wing mirror. He was shown footage and accepts it was him, but he can’t remember. The incident was six months ago and he still bears a scar on his forehead so it must have been a significant fall.

“He has been left scared and traumatised of going to prison. He tells me if he keeps his liberty he won’t want to drive ever again.”

Mr Lewis said Wilson had no current income as he had not worked since the pandemic.

Bench chair Mr Green told Wilson: “This is a very disturbing case as you can’t remember anything, plus the level of alcohol reading five hours later is stratospheric.

“It’s almost incredible no-one else was hurt. You could have killed someone and you wouldn’t have remembered it.”

Wilson was handed a £120 fine for each offence and must pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge. He was also disqualified from driving for 21 months – a ban he can reduce by 21 weeks if he successfully completes a drink-drive awareness course.