A Tenby teenager who visited the town centre for a ‘quiet pint and a game of pool’ has been banned from driving for 17 months after admitting a drink-driving charge in court.

Nineteen-year-old Richard James Lewis, of Haytor Gardens, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, to plead guilty to a charge of driving his Fiat Punto whilst over the limit.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the defendant had driven into town on Monday, July 3, for a pint and to play pool, and parked his car in Tudor Square.

“He had a pint and then another pint, and as these things go when you’re enjoying yourself, he made what he calls an absolutely stupid decision to drive home.

“Mr. Lewis only lives threequarters-of-a-mile away, so he could have walked it, but worried that he might get a parking ticket the following morning, he drove his car.

“A member of the public saw him get into the vehicle and could tell that he’d had a drink, and reported it to the police.

“Officers went to the defendant’s property. He could have been difficult, but he co-operated with the police, and accepted that he hadn’t had a drink since getting home,” added Mr. Pritchard-Jones.

The court heard how Mr. Lewis gave a reading of 78 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit.

Mr. Lewis addressed magistrates himself and apologised for his behaviour, stating that he realised how ‘stupid and irresponsible’ he had been.

Magistrates disqualified the defendant from driving for 17 months and fined him £120 for the offence.

Mr. Lewis was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.