AN ENGINEER who went for a few celebratory pints with work colleagues on his final day at work has ended up losing his licence after being arrested for drink driving.

Daniel Jones said he had 3 pints with friends on September 2 before driving home. He was pulled over by police on the A490 near Churchstoke and found to be a little over the drink driving limit – Jones told magistrates this week he is about to start a new job and is not sure if a driving ban will affect his employment.

Jones, 36, admitted drink driving when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, September 20.

Jones was driving a blue Citroen C4 when he was pulled over between Churchstoke and Chirbury. He failed a roadside breath test, with a later test revealing there to be 46 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his breath – the legal drink drive limit is 35 micrograms.

Prosecutor Molly Rumsey said the incident occurred at around 7.45pm. “He came to the attention of officers as he was exceeding the speed limit,” said Ms Rumsey.

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“He was pulled over and officers noticed his eyes were glazed over. A roadside test was positive. He was taken to the station, where a lower reading was 46 micrograms. He has no previous convictions.”

Jones, of Turold Mews, Lawley, near Telford, said in his own defence: “I’d finished my previous job, I was with colleagues that I wasn’t going to be seeing again.

“I had 3 pints, I’d never been in the pub we were at before, despite having worked next door to it. I can’t blame anyone else for it, it was totally my fault, I have to deal with the consequences.

“I’d like to go on a drink drive course if it’s put forward. I have taken a new job which is closer to home so I’m hoping a ban won’t affect work, but I don’t know how it’s going to affect my job."

Jones was disqualified for 14 months but this will be reduced by 14 weeks if he completes a drink drive awareness programme. He must pay a £646 fine, as well as a £258 surcharge and £85 costs.