Damage to his ‘pride and joy’ led to a Tenby holiday maker drink-driving after a disagreement.

Neil John Lord, of Albany Road, Roath, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, July 10, but informed the court he would be presenting a special reasons argument.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that police received a call at 1.45am on June 24 about a disturbance involving a man and woman in a Tenby hotel.

“The officers were given the registration number of the vehicle this gentleman had driven off in. He was stopped and told officers straight away that he had been drinking and would be over the limit.”

Lord, 64, was found to have 64mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

The court heard that Lord’s partner had scratched the bonnet of his BMW with a 'wet floor' sign after they argued, and he had moved it out of sight to avoid further damage.

Mark Layton, defending, said: “He had gone out for a meal with his partner and they had something of a disagreement. He went back to the hotel and was in bed when it was brought to his attention that his car had been damaged. She telephoned to tell him.”

Mr Layton added that Lord had only owned the car for a month, and it was his ‘pride and joy’.

“He drove it around the corner, believing that it if it was out of sight it would not be subjected to further damage.”

The bench heard that the distance driven was only 20 to 30 yards, and Lord had left his property in the hotel because he had not intended driving any further.

A special reasons hearing was listed for July 23, and Lord was released on unconditional bail.