FOUR more drink-drivers caught in Wiltshire police's festive blitz are facing up to life without their licences.

Chippenham magistrates handed out driving bans of up to three-years, fines and stern warnings on Monday as they dealt with the latest crop of offenders to ignore police pleas.

Father-of-five Anthony Rogers, 44, was nearly three times over the drink-drive limit when officers stopped him in Hilperton over the Christmas period.

Police officers had to trail Rogers after he initially failed to pull over but he was eventually tested at the roadside and arrested.

Taken back to Melksham police station he gave two more breath specimens, with the lowest reading measuring 99mg per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Rogers, who is serving with the Royal Navy until next month when he will transfer to a defence post in Corsham, said his wife had asked him for a divorce just hours before his arrest.

Mark Drew, defending, said Rogers tried to hail a taxi after a day of drinking but when his bid proved fruitless he made the fateful decision to drive.

"He certainly appears to be very remorseful for his actions and he is thankful no one was injured and no accident was caused", Mr Drew said.

"Due to his intoxicated state he did not stop as quickly as he should have done but there was no question he was driving away from the police."

Rogers, of Bath Road, Frome, was handed a 28-month ban and £600 fine and ordered to pay £43 costs, after admitting charges of drink-driving and failing to stop for police.

Motorist Simon Bowers was more than two-and-a-half times over the limit when police stopped him on Frome Road, Trowbridge, the day before New Year's Eve. Bowers, of Churchfields, Trowbridge, clocked a reading of 90mg per 100ml of breath when he was tested at Melksham police station.

The 45-year-old was handed a 24-month ban and £300 fine after admitting a drink-drive charge.

Henry Acland was nearly two times over the limit when police tested him after an accident on the M4 at Chippenham.

Officers were called to Junction 17 following reports of a collision and found 60-year-old Mr Acland in his Volkswagen Polo.

Smelling alcohol on his breath officers took a roadside sample before arresting him. Acland's lowest reading measured 65mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Acland, of Kennington Park, London, said he had managed to steer his car onto the hard shoulder when his tyre blew.

"I was not so bad I couldn't keep control in an extremely difficult situation on the motorway," he said.

Banned for 18-months in 2001 for drink-driving, Acland was handed a mandatory three-year ban, £420 fine and ordered to pay £55 costs.

Daniel Hulbert was given an interim driving ban by magistrates after police caught him driving on Rock Road, Trowbridge, with excess alcohol in his blood.

Hulbert, 22, who was driving his mother's car, gave a reading of 44mg per 100ml of breath. Despite admitting a drink-drive charge, the case was adjourned until January 26 for insurance details to be confirmed.

Wiltshire police arrested 28 people from December 18 to January 2 on suspicion of drink-driving.

Each driver, if convicted, faces minimum bans of 12 months and fines of up to £6,000.