A KIDDERMINSTER motorist has been banned from getting behind the wheel for a year after he was caught over the drink drive limit.

Robert Grealy, of St George’s Terrace, was found to be over the legal limit when he was stopped by police in Bewdley Road, Kidderminster, on August 9.

Kidderminster Magistrates were told that the 32-year-old had been at his friend’s house and drank two pints of lager and believed he would be fine to drive.

But he was breathalysed and found to have 44mg in 100ml of breath – a little more than the legal limit of 35mg.

Adrian Jones, prosecuting, said: “Police were on patrol in the early hours and saw a vehicle straddling the white lines.

“The car then pulled out of a junction in front of the police and accelerated away. Due to the position of the car and the speed it went off, officers decided to stop the vehicle.

“They spoke to the driver and smelled alcohol on his breath and carried out a road side breath test.”

In mitigation, Ian Patterson said: “There has been a breakdown in his relationship and he wanted to talk about that with his friend.

“He drank two pints and thought he would be ok to drive. He made a misjudgement and he fully co-operated with police.

“The reason he was straddling the middle of the road when police saw him was he had just completed a U-turn and was adjusting the vehicle.”

Grealy was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £390. He was also ordered to pay £856 costs, a court charge of £150 and a victim surcharge of £39.