AN ARMY corporal due to fly out to Afghanistan in the New Year to join the British military campaign was caught driving at nearly twice the legal alcohol limit.

Darren Allen, who serves with the 1st Battalion RWF at Clive Barracks, Shropshire, was on a training course in Warminster when police pulled him over.

Army driver Allen, 29, now faces the sack after magistrates sitting in Trowbridge banned him for 12 months after he admitted the drink-drive offence.

Richard Thomas, prosecuting, said Allen was spotted by two police officers driving his Peugeot 306 along Weymouth Street without wearing a seatbelt.

Police officers noticed his eyes were glazed and they could smell alcohol on his breath.

A roadside breath test showed a reading of 60mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

He was taken to Warminster police station and charged with the offence.

Defending himself, Allen said he was drinking shandy during the night but realised afterwards it could have been more lager than lemonade.

He said: "Due to the nature of my job I was down in Warminster on a course.

"I am a driver in the Army and need my licence for my job."

Sgt Matthews, of the 1st Battalion RWF, spoke on behalf of Allen saying the incident was "totally out of character".

He said: "I have known Cpl Allen for eight years and it is totally out of character. He is on a three-year operational tour and needs his licence to carry out his duties. The tour finishes in December.

"After Christmas we are being put on standby to help deal with problems out in Afghanistan.

"If he does get a big ban I would have to sack him.

"When he gets back off the course he will be disciplined by the military. It looks like he will lose his rank."

Magistrates fined Allen £350 and ordered him to pay £55 costs.

He was offered the driver rehabilitation course which could reduce his driving ban by three months.