A GORSLAS man has been banned from getting behind the wheel for 20 months after he admitted crashing into a parked car while twoand- a-half times the drinkdrive limit.

Michael Andrew Hopkins, of 25 Llandeilo Road, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence following the incident on November 3.

Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Carmarthen magistrates how residents of Cefneithin Road were startled by a loud bang during the early hours.

Hopkins was seen next to his Toyota Celica, which had struck a parked car, with his face bloodied.

Tests showed he had 206 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Defence solicitor Simon Howell said the incident was completely out of character for a man who usually acted as driver for friends while he himself remained sober.

He described how Hopkins, a team manager at an Ammanford call centre, had driven to Cefneithin RFC where he drank with friends before walking to the Cross Hands Hotel “where he had a few more”.

Mr Howell said Hopkins had intended to then walk home and collect his car the following morning, but after leaving the hotel realised he had left his house keys in the vehicle.

“He is a single man who lives alone and had no way of getting into the property,”

said Mr Howell.

“He made the decision to walk back to the car to get his keys and then to walk home from there.

“He went back to the car, but he cannot remember anything after that until after the collision occurred.

He remembers being in the back of the ambulance.”

Mr Howell said Hopkins was “deeply embarrassed and ashamed” about the incident.

“Although he cannot recall driving he accepts he was driving,” he added.

Hopkins pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence.

Magistrates banned him from driving for 20 months and fined him £300.

Hopkins was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 legal surcharge.