A MAN who was spotted by police drifting across the A303 near South Petherton in the early hours of the morning and then confessed he had been drinking has been given a 16-month driving ban.

Police were on duty when they saw a VW Special panel van being driven towards the South Petherton roundabout and noticed it was drifting across the carriageway.

Despite initially denying having drunk anything, the driver, Adam Oakden, then admitted he had and was arrested and failed a roadside breath test.

Oakden, a self-employed carpenter, of Solar Crescent, Exeter, pleaded guilty to driving after consuming excess alcohol on November 5 when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates.

He had initially pleaded not guilty to the offence and had been due to stand trial, but later changed his plea and admitted the offence.

Prosecutor Charlotte Ash told Yeovil magistrates that police officers were on patrol on the A303 at 12.30am driving from Cartgate towards South Petherton.

“They saw a van which was drifting from side to side and a check revealed that it was registered to Oakden,” she said.

“At the South Petherton roundabout they illuminated their blue lights and indicated the defendant to pull over and when he confirmed the van was his they noticed his speech was slurred.

“When asked if he had been drinking he said he had not, but when challenged he said “Ok it’s true, I’ve been drinking.”

He was arrested and when taken into custody took a breath test which produced a reading of 56mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol.

Miss Ash added that Oakden had initially denied the offence in court, raising an issue as to whether the statutory warnings had been given to him.

However he then retracted his plea and changed it to guilty.

The defendant said that he had recently become unemployed because he would not be able to drive any more and was now looking to change his career path.

“I just want to get this out of the way and get on with my life and want to apologise as I am very sorry for what I have done,” he said.

Alongside the disqualification the magistrates also fined Oakden £150 with £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.