A MAN who spent the weekend drinking heavily at his mother's caravan was almost twice the legal alcohol limit when he was stopped by police after they received a tip-off from a concerned driver.

Christopher Formstone, aged 51, was travelling to Welshpool from Borth on July 10 when a driver following his grey Land Rover Discovery reported him to the police after they believed he was drunk.

Welshpool Magistrates' Court heard Formstone blew 69 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – almost twice the legal limit of 35mcgs – when he was stopped at Raven Street in Welshpool.

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Formstone was sentenced to a 12-month community order and disqualified from driving for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared in the dock on Tuesday, August 1.

Owain Jones, mitigating, said Formstone had been drinking the night before and during the morning.

"He co-operated with police and he for what it’s worth regrets his actions for drinking and driving and his guilty plea is an indication of this.

“Perhaps you will consider an intervention not only as punishment but to rehabilitate him.”

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Probation officer Julian Davies told the court that Formstone had been drinking "fairly heavily" over the weekend and that he "didn't consider that he may be over the limit".

Mr Davies said: "Looking back he tells me he feels devastated by what he's done.

"Alcohol has been problematic over the last 10 years."

After considering the probation service's recommendation carefully, the magistrates decided to impose a 12-month community order with a nine-month alcohol requirement order and eight rehabilitation requirements days.

Formstone, of New Park Road, Castlefields, Shrewsbury, must also pay a £600 fine, £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.