A MAN who got behind the wheel after going to the pub has been fined and banned.

Nigel Ahmed, of Lansdown Road in Broughton, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 43-year-old admitted one offence of drink-driving, which took place at Pen y Coed in Buckley on August 19.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court that at around 3am on the day of the offence, police were on patrol in Ewloe when they spotted a vehicle driving at speed with three people on board.

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Ahmed, who admitted having driven the vehicle, was found to have 53 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; the limit being 35.

Simon Simmons, defending, told the court: "He's an oil tank cleaner working around the country and can get a lift.

"He is struggling financially at the moment, with mortgage and council tax arrears."

Mr Simmons said his client had been to the pub that night and had been drinking.

He hadn't been intending to drive away and allowed another person to drive the car - which is when it was first spotted by police.

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But Ahmed had got back behind the wheel and moved the vehicle by the time officers caught up, Mr Simmons added - thus he accepted having driven it.

District Judge Gwyn Jones handed down a £400 fine and ordered the defendant to pay £85 costs, as well as a £160 victim surcharge.

He was banned from driving for 15 months.