A man has appeared in court accused of trying to swindle a bookmakers out of $1,515 by using a false betting slip.

Marco Davis denied using a false instrument and trying to dishonestly obtain $1,515 from Seahorses in Hamilton on July 9 in Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Mr Davis, 40, was released on bail and will stand trial on November 20.

• A South African expatriate worker has been banned from the roads after he admitted drink-driving and speeding in Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Smart Mlotshwa was caught driving his van at 69 km/h on Middle Road in Devonshire on August 15.

Mr Mlotshwa, 43, was then stopped by officers and found to be over the legal drink-drive limit.

The air conditioning technician was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined $1,300.