A MAN who thought he was fit to drive after having a few drinks with a Chinese meal came off a wet road on a sharp bend and had to walk home after his car came off a wet road on a sharp bend, magistrates heard.

Ross James Parker, 26, of Dodford Lane, Christian Malford, pleaded guilty on Wednesday (jun28) to driving on June 3 when his alcohol/breath level was 47 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35 mcg.

Pauline Lambert, prosecuting, told the Swindon court police had been called to Whitehill Lane, Royal Wootton Bassett, at 4.45am after a witness saw a van crash into a fence and a man leave the scene.

The officers found a man walking along the road in Dauntsey and Parker admitted he had been driving the van. He failed a roadside breath test.

Parker told the police he had driven to Royal Wootton Bassett to meet a friend. He did not feel drunk but when driving home he had approached an S-bend too quickly and come off the road.

As he had no phone he had no choice but to walk home.

Ben Worthington, defending, said Sharp and his friend had one drink before going to a Chinese restaurant where they had a few drinks with food. He felt OK to drive.

He was a self-employed shop fitter. The van was not his but he was allowed to drive it and would have to pay for the damage and £1,000 for the damaged fence.

He lived in a rural location with his parents and life would be difficult without being able to drive, Mr Worthington said.

Chairman of the bench Jane Flew told Parker: “You have learned the hard way that judging if you are sober enough to drive is very difficult.”

Parker was fined £190, disqualified from driving for 14 months and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £30.