A MAN who admitted he had “slipped up” after a long birthday lunch has been given a 15 month driving ban after he was caught drink driving in Chard.

The police were on duty in Oaklands Avenue when they saw Rupert Kelly’s vehicle pulling away and driving off at speed.

They could see the vehicle crossing the solid white lines in the middle of the road several times so pulled it over where the defendant admitted he had been drinking.

Kelly, 28, of Broadwindsor, near Beaminster, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on the A30 at Chard on December 14 after consuming excess alcohol when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that on the day in question officers were on duty in Chard and saw the defendant’s vehicle which was parked on the side of the road.

“It drove off towards Crewkerne Road and was exceeding the 40mph speed limit in their opinion before crossing the central solid white line on a number of occasions,” she said.

“The officers indicated for it to stop and spoke to the defendant who was the driver and when asked if he had been drinking he confirmed he had and failed a roadside breath test.”

Kelly was taken to the police station where a further breath test revealed a reading of 52mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol.

Defending himself, Kelly said that he was very sorry for the offence adding that he had been out celebrating his niece’s birthday which turned into a “long lunch”

“I slipped up and this will affect me as I live in the middle of nowhere and have just started up a new business,” he said.

“I will never do it again as it wasn’t worth it, I will just get a taxi in the future and just can’t believe I did it.”

The magistrates disqualified the defendant from driving for 15 months and fined him £323 with £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.