A MAGISTRATE told a drink-driver his actions could have had 'horrendous consequences' before banning him from driving for 30 months.

Chairman of the bench Michael Sharp expressed his views after hearing how Wade Mountford, 35, drank a two-litre bottle of cider during a night shift before attempting to drive home.

Mountford, who was working at Willougby Hedge filling station, was found at the wheel of his car in The Green, Crockerton, with a half-empty bottle of vodka by his feet at 9.20am on March 18.

When police breathalysed him he was more than three times over the limit.

At Chippenham magistrates' court on Friday, Mr Sharp said: "This was an extremely high reading and you don't need us to

lecture you about the possible consequences of having driven on that level of reading. They could have been absolutely horrendous."

Rhys Davies, prosecuting, said police responded to reports of a man asleep in his car. When officers arrived, Mountford was being treated by paramedics.

A 350ml bottle of vodka was found on the floor and officers could smell alcohol on Mountford's breath.

When a roadside breath test gave a positive reading, he was taken to the police station where he was found to have 115mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

In a police interview Mountford said he was working at the petrol station from 11pm to 8am, and drank the cider during his shift. He was driving back to his home in Wells Road, Chilcompton, near Bath, but was forced to pull over in Crockerton because of a puncture.

Mr Davies said: "He told police that he was an alcoholic.

"He was not sure how far he had driven but he had driven for about 35 minutes.

"He was glad he had been caught otherwise he would have kept on driving knowing he was unfit to do so."

Roger Stanbury, defending, said Mountford's relationship with his partner had broken down and she had taken their children to live in Grimsby.

He said the alcohol level would have been boosted by Mountford drinking the vodka, which he had not done until he stopped the car in Crockerton.

Mountford is attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and is being supported by his grandmother and godmother.

Mr Stanbury said: "He is very remorseful.

"He is still working obviously, he cannot work at the same filling station because of the distance, but the same company has given him an alternative job.

"I am sure he will get the help that is being recommended and will deal with it responsibly."

Mountford, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, was also given a two year community rehabilitation order and ordered to pay £35 court costs.