A MAN who drank after work and then drove to a fast food restaurant has been fined and banned.
Joseph Lovell, of Wordsworth Crescent in Blacon, appeared at Wrexham magistrates Court on Monday.
The 31-year-old admitted that on May 30 on the A5 Chirk Bypass, he drove a vehicle after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath exceeded the prescribed limit.
Prosecutor Molly Rumsey told the court that police were notified about the defendant by staff at McDonald's in Chirk at around 6.30am.
The court heard that he'd parked over three bays at the location, then driven away onto the A5.
He was seen "swerving" across a white line on the road, before officers pulled him over.
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Lovell smelled of alcohol and told police he'd consumed rum the night before.
His lowest sample in custody was 43 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the limit being 35.
Emma Simoes, defending, told the court: "Obviously this is a low reading. Mr Lovell works as a door supervisor and he finishes in the early hours of the morning.
"He says he had two pints on completion of his shift and went to get something to eat.
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"That's when the police stopped him."
Ms Simoes said her client depends on his driving licence for employment and the inevitable driving ban would have a huge financial impact on him by way of reducing his ability to get to other sites for work.
The court handed down a £336 fine, as well as a £134 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
Lovell was banned from driving for 12 months.
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