A POWYS man has been banned from the road for 20 months after crashing his car after drinking at his local football club.

Nathan William Hayward, 36, crashed his BMW into a telegraph pole in icy conditions on March 26 near Llansantffraid. Welshpool Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday, April 12, that the joiner had glazed eyes and was unsteady on his feet when police arrived at the scene – he told officers he had drunk another three pints inside 30 minutes at a nearby pub following the accident because he was nervous.

Hayward, from Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, pleaded guilty to a single charge of drink driving at last week’s hearing.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said the incident occurred just after midnight on Winllan Road, Llansantffraid.

“Police received a call at around 12.30am from a member of the public, saying he had crashed his car on the road just north of Llansantffraid, the vehicle was on its side,” said Ms Tench.

“After police arrived at the scene, the driver appeared after a few minutes. He had been at the Station Grill, having had a couple of pints there. He was clearly intoxicated and smelt strongly of alcohol. His eyes were glazed and he was unsteady on his feet.

“He was interviewed the following morning and told officers he had gone to the football club, where he had drunk two or three pints, before leaving at 11pm. He then collided with a telegraph post, with the vehicle turning and landing on its side.

“He said he then went to nearby addresses, but no-one there, so walked to the Station Grill and phoned his dad. His father told him to stay there and then arrived at 12.15am; the defendant said he had consumed three more pints in the space of half an hour as he was nervous.”

Ms Tench said a roadside breath test proved positive, with Hayward providing a reading of 70 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Owain Jones, acting for Hayward, said his client had not put forward a post-consumption defence as he knew he was over the limit from the alcohol he drank before the crash.

“The defendant is remorseful, he regrets what he’s done,” said Mr Jones.

“He consumed alcohol after the incident but had three pints before and would have been over the limit. He lost track of time and is sorry for what he’s done.

“CCTV (from the pub) shows he drunk a few more pints after the incident. Conditions were icy that night, which is partly the reason for the accident. He had tried to alert nearby properties, then phoned the police and waited at the scene, he has not tried to evade capture.

“He rarely drinks and has children, so losing his licence will cause him problems. He has references from his employer and his ex-partner. He is a good worker and a good parent and he has no previous convictions.”

Magistrates banned Hayward from driving for 20 months, but he can reduce this period if he completes a drink drive rehabilitation programme.

They also fined him £400 fine, while he has to pay £85 costs and a £40 surcharge.