A Narberth man suspected of drink-driving by supermarket staff has appeared in court to admit getting behind the wheel of his vehicle over the limit.

Sixty-one-year-old Stephen Thomas Rees, of West End Cottage, Robeston Wathen, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with driving a VW Golf after exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit.

Prosecutor Linda Baker told the court that on Sunday, February 23, shortly after 10 am, staff at the Tesco store in Haverfordwest reported to police that they were concerned that they had seen the defendant drinking from what appeared to be a can of lager before driving away.

Police officers stopped Mr. Rees’ vehicle on the B4314 road and could smell alcohol on the breath of the driver. A roadside test proved positive and after his arrest Mr.Rees provided a reading of 69 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath at the police station.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb said that it was, as ever, always disappointing to see anyone of previous clean character come before the court.

He told the court that the previous day Mr. Rees had been at home drinking whilst watching Wales take on France in the Six Nations rugby tournament.

“He went to Tesco the following morning, but it wasn’t alcohol he was drinking from the can, however Mr. Rees misjudged the amount of alcohol he had consumed the day before, and the passage of time that had passed.

“He runs a sand and gravel business in Narberth with his brother, so with Mr. Rees losing his driving licence, the pressure will now fall more on his sibling,” added Mr. Webb.

Magistrates disqualified Mr. Rees from driving for 18 months, and fined him £375 for the offence.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £32 victim surcharge.