A NEWTOWN man has had his driving licence taken away from him just days after passing his test after he crashed his car while over the drink drive limit.

Nathaniel Robinson, 28, had 61 micrograms of alcohol in his system when he was breathalysed on the morning of October 13 last year – he crashed his Seat Arona on the Newtown bypass while on his way to McDonalds on the morning after a night out.

Robinson, of Lon Maesycoed, Newtown, admitted one charge of drink driving when appearing at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 21.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said police were called to a road traffic collision on the A498 at Kerry Road just before 7.30am.

“The defendant had been driving, there had been a collision,” she said.

“He told officers he was driving, one officer could smell alcohol on him and a roadside breath test was positive and he was arrested.”

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Mrs Tench said Robinson possessed a full, clean licence, and had no previous convictions.

Rob Hanratty, acting for Robinson, said his client had only passed his test two days before the incident.

“He never expected to be here,” said Mr Hanratty.

“Naivety is the reason why he is here. He had been drinking the night before. He woke up, hungry, he felt fine and popped in the car. He went to McDonald’s but didn’t get that far.

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“He is not able to work due to his health and his autism. Following the incident he surrendered his driving licence and the DVLA revoked it, caused in part by his condition.

“He crashed the car, he was the one who reported it.”

Magistrates banned Robinson from driving for 17 months but offered him the chance to reduce the disqualification by allowing him to attend a drink drive awareness course.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.