A PENSIONER was so drunk behind the wheel of his car he twice mounted the kerb and nearly crashed into a pedestrian crossing, a court heard.

Robert Guy, 68, of The Grove, Shrivenham, attracted the attention of police officers late on August 29, last year yards from Swindon Central police station in Fleming Way.

Frank Murphy, prosecuting, told Swindon Magistrates Court yesterday Guy attempted to cover his tracks by using a mouth spray.

But when breathalysed the pensioner was found to have an alcohol level of 71 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath twice the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

In January 2002 he was banned from driving for 22 months on drink-drive charges.

Mr Murphy said: "At 11.45pm PC Dean Singleton was on patrol and was driving along Fleming Way when he spotted a Rover 216.

The car drove across the carriageway and mounted the kerb on the opposite side of the road.

Police followed the car along Station Road and it mounted the kerb again.

"The car was stopped after it nearly collided with a pelican crossing. The defendant was trying to spray something into his mouth, we know this was mouth spray.

"He was unsteady on his feet and asked if he had been drinking. He said that he did not drink."

Guy failed two roadside breath tests, a third test was carried out at the police station. The pensioner attempted to blame his erratic driving on a chest infection.

Stephen Weighell, defending, said his client, who admitted the charge, accepted his wrong -doing.

Dick Mattick, the chair of the bench, disqualified Guy from driving for three years, fined him £150 and ordered him to pay £150 costs.

Kevin Shoesmith