A DRINK-driving chef has lost his licence after an early morning crash in Mold.

Aaron Elson, of Wats Dyke Avenue in Mynydd Isa, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 24-year-old admitted that on July 17 he drove a vehicle in Bromfield Park, Mold, after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his blood exceeded the prescribed limit.

He was found to have 199 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - the limit being 80.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told the court that at around 4.30am on the day of the offence, a resident of Bromfield Park was woken by a loud bang.

He looked out of his window and saw that a vehicle had collided with his own.

The driver of the vehicle was still inside, revving the engine as he tried to reverse.

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The resident came down to try to stop him leaving and noticed the man - confirmed to be Elson - smelled strongly of intoxicants.

The defendant told the resident: "Ah, I've f****d it."

He complied with police procedure and gave the reading he was ultimately charged with.

After assessing Elson, probation officer Andrew Connah told the court: "He appeared genuinely remorseful for his behaviour.

"He tells me he'd been to the Red Lion pub and had taken his car there but didn't intend to drive home.

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"He intended to get a lift from a friend but he drank far more than he intended and made the foolish decision to drive.

"He has little memory of the incident - and just about remembers the collision."

Mr Connah told the court the defendant works full time as a chef on an industrial estate in Mold, preparing food for takeaway companies.

Ian Barnes, defending, told the court his client felt he'd "gone off the rails a bit" following an argument with his girlfriend.

Ceri Hughes, chair of the bench, told the defendant: "There is no excuse for drink-driving.

"Like you, on this occasion, we are pleased no one else was hurt."

Elson was fined £768 and ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge, as well as £85 costs.

He was banned from driving for 20 months.