CIVIL engineer Jarlath Finegan was almost twice over the drink drive limit after he stopped for three pints of lager on the way home from work.

The 35-year-old was stopped behind the wheel of his Ford Escort in Old Town.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, told magistrates that Finegan was spotted by police at about 12.25am on Saturday July 12.

He said police pulled Finegan over because he was driving with his fog lights on when it wasn't foggy.

After he failed a roadside breath test he was taken to the police station at Westlea where he was found to have 69mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The limit is 35mg.

Finegan, of Folkestone Road, Old Town, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol when he appeared at Swindon magistrates court.

Con Fernandes, defending, said: "He had three pints of lager in the Clifton pub. He hadn't eaten and didn't consider he might be over the limit to drive home," he said.

He said his client managed four or five sites across the south of England and needed his licence to travel between them.

And as a result of the disqualification he was almost certain to lose his job as his employers can't find other work for him.

Magistrates banned him for 16 months, fined him £500 and ordered he pay £55 towards the costs of the case.