A St David’s man was banned from the road after he admitted drinking and driving in Hamilton.

Joshua Swan, 27, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court to driving while over the legal blood-alcohol limit on November 26.

The court heard that at about 1.05am that day, officers received a report of a traffic collision on Reid Street near the junction with Spurling Hill.

When the officers arrived on scene, they found a damaged car across the road and Swan with an injury to his upper lip.

Swan reportedly told officers that he had been at a friend’s birthday party at Social Club and had about five drinks, including shots of vodka.

Officers said his breath smelt of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot and he appeared to be unsteady on his feet.

He agreed to provide police with breath samples, which showed a lower reading of 122mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, about 50 per cent over the legal limit of 80mg.

Swan apologised for the incident, telling the court: “It was a stupid mistake. It won’t happen again.”

Magistrate Tyrone Chin fined Swan $1,500 and disqualified him from driving all vehicles for 18 months.

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