A police officer who stopped to help a motorist who he thought had broken down or been involved in an accident ended up arresting him on a breathalyser charge.
Magistrates sitting in Tenby heard this week how Terry James Harries was seen by PC Keith Barclay at approximately 11.30 pm on October 26 bending down at the electrics under the dashboard of his vehicle, which was parked on the Canaston Bridge to Llawhaden road.
On speaking to 51-year-old Harries, the officer detected alcohol on his breath and a subsequent roadside breath test proved positive, crown prosecutor, Mr. Tim Roberts, told the court.
Harries, of10 Saunders Road, Carew Park, Sageston, was duly arrested and taken to Haverfordwest police station where the intoxiliser revealed he was over twice the legal drink-drive limit with 71 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 mg.
Defence solicitor, Mr. James Subbiani told the bench that his client was on his way home after leaving his car at a friend's house in Maenclochog with whom he had been on holiday to Lanzarote.
Although he had consumed a small can of lager on the plane "many hours" before and a "pint or so of bitter" at the friend's house, Harries had consumed a quantity of alcohol the previous night.
He was "very shocked at the alcohol reading," his solicitor told the court.
"He did not knowingly drive whilst over the limit," said Mr. Subbiani, who also pointed out that losing his licence would have a "serious impact" on his client's working life.
A self-employed carpenter, Harries would have to employ a driver, which as a result would see him suffering a "massive impact" on his income.
Harries, who admitted driving with excess alcohol, was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £300 and ordered to pay £50 costs. He was also offered the drink-drive rehabilitation course and warned that driving whilst disqualified could lead to a prison sentence.