A Milford Haven man has been given a lengthy driving ban and a community order after admitting in court a series of motoring offences.

Forty-two-year-old Gatis Leisthanis, of Mansfield Street, pleaded guilty to driving his Vauxhall Zafira whilst over three times the limit; whilst disqualified from driving; and with no third party insurance, when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that a police officer on routine patrol in Haverfordwest at around 4.40 am on October 10, saw Mr. Leisthanis’s vehicle travelling towards him, before it contravened a right turn and a no entry sign and proceeded to travel the wrong way down a one-way street.

“Mr. Leisthanis was stopped and provided a roadside sample which proved positive and a reading of 112 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath at the police station, so he was over three times the legal limit,” explained Mr. Pritchard-Jones.

“Checks were made and it was discovered that the defendant was disqualified from driving for six months. He was asked in a police interview if he knew that he was disqualified from driving, and told officers that he fully understood the notice,” he added.

Probation officer Julie Norman told the court that Mr. Leisthanis, who was of Latvian nationality and worked locally on a farm, was alcohol dependent and that he had recently relapsed after complying well with a previous community order when he lived in Lincolnshire.

“He was driving to the Tesco store in Haverfordwest to purchase more alcohol when he was stopped.

“He told me that he has had an alcohol problem for the past 25 years, linked to the death of his parents in Latvia.

“Mr. Leisthanis has been to his doctor about the problem and been referred for help,” added Ms Norman.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told the court that there was nothing he could usefully add to the probation officer’s report.

“Mr. Leisthanis was drinking in Haverfordwest that night. He told me he didn’t know when his driving ban was up as he had left the disqualification notice in Lincolnshire,” said Mr. Webb.

Magistrates disqualified Mr. Leisthanis from driving for 28 months and endorsed his driving licence. He was given a 12-month community order, to include a 10-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) and 200 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant was also fined £440 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.