A SELF employed plumber who was almost four times the drink-drive limit said he did not have a problem with alcohol, magistrates heard.

Daniel Turbarella of Flax Mill Park in Devizes was reported to police by a member of public who felt he was intoxicated in Morrisons car park in the town.

Officers arrived at the scene and waited for him leave the car park before pulling him over.

Kate Prince, prosecuting at Salisbury magistrates court on Friday (sep 15) said Turbarella, 58, who admitted driving while above the legal alcohol limit, blew an alcohol reading of 132 mcg – the legal limit being 35 mcg.

Magistrate Simon Browning heard that the incident happened after the father-of-two had been having problems with his partner.

A member of the probation service said Turbarella was “very fearful” that custody was an option due to level of alcohol in his system.

She added: “He had been to a friend’s house the night before and had had a lot to drink during lunchtime and had a couple of glasses of wine later that evening.

“The next day he drove into town at lunch time to meet a friend and wasn’t going to go for a drink but ended up going for a drink.”

Turbarella told the probation service that he did not have a problem with drink but due to the issues with his partner he had been drinking with his friends in the days before the incident and had made a “stupid mistake”.

Nick Redhead, in mitigation, said Turbarella would lose his job if he was handed a driving ban as he relied on his van to get to plumbing jobs and his work partner did not drive.

Mr Browning said this was a “serious offence” and that Turbarella was close to the custody threshold due to the level of alcohol.

He was handed a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, along with a 32-month driving ban.

Turbarella was also told to pay an £85 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.