A MAN was more than twice over the drink-drive limit when he was found asleep in his car after a bust-up with his girlfriend.

Scott Clark, from Wroughton, jumped in his car and drove off after assaulting his girlfriend at the couple's home.

The 32-year-old was found slumped in the driver's seat in a pub car park by police, who were called following the drunken row.

Earlier he had downed seven pints of lager before arguing with girlfriend of four years, Lesley Street.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said Miss Street had been at a friend's house on the evening of September 27 where she drank about six vodka and cokes.

"She got home after mid-night and he was in bed watching television. She said she started an argument about a text message he had received from a female," he said.

However the argument escalated and became violent.

Clark struck her a number of times, knocking her to the floor and preventing her from getting up.

Mr Ballinger said that she phoned her sister asking her to call the police. Officers found Clark's Ford Sierra in the car park of the Three Tuns.

Mr Ballinger said Clark was asleep in the driver's seat and when woken smelled of alcohol.

He was taken to Swindon police station where tests found he had 84mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Clark, of High Street, Wroughton, pleaded guilty to common assault and drink driving.

Lee Mott, defending, said that over the past few months Miss Street had been continually questioning his client about him having an affair.

"Her pre-occupation has led to a number of argu-ments. He would say her accusations are baseless," he said.

Since the row he said his client had moved back in with his mother in Wroughton, and did not want to continue the relationship.

Magistrates adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports and released Clark on conditional bail.

Tina Clarke