A swig of vodka drives volunteer off the road (From South Wales Guardian)

A swig of vodka drives volunteer off the road

12:00pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in News

A RETIRED Ammanford haulage contractor could not explainwhy he stopped at Tesco to “take a swig” out of a bottle of vodka while driving through the town, Llanelli magistrates heard.

Lynne Thomas’s decision proved costly as he was subsequently stopped in Park Street and found to be narrowly over the limit, said Gerald Neave, prosecuting.

Thomas, aged 68, of 30 Bishops Road, was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £120 after pleading guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victims’ surcharge.

Mr Neave said the offence was committed on July 6 when Thomas provided a blood specimen of 86mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood – the legal limit is 80.

Thomas’s solicitor told the court he was “extremely sorry” for his actions.

“He consumed a couple of glasses of vodka at home and was in the act of returning a white Ford Escort van when, for reasons he can’t explain, he stopped at Tesco and had another swig out of the bottle,” she said.

“He used to be a haulage contractor so he knows the effect this is going to have on his family.”

She added that Thomas, who had been under considerable stress, had carried out extensive voluntary work for the Red Cross.