Buying a newspaper while nearly double the drink-drive limit has cost a Solva 70 year-old his driving licence.

Roger Graham, of Llangamma, Whitchurch, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit when he appeared in the dock at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Graham was stopped while driving his Kia Venga on an unclassified road at Whitchurch at 4.50pm on February 21.

He was found to have 69mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “There was no allegation of bad driving, it was a routine stop. When he spoke to the officer he said he was on his way home from getting a paper from the local shop.”

Mike Kelleher, defending, described the incident as a ‘complete and utter disaster’ for Graham, whose wife suffered from dementia and osteoarthritis.

“He will lose his driving licence for the sake of popping out to get a paper. He has no idea why he made that decision, but he will regret it for a significant amount of time.”

He added that Graham had already sought assistance from an alcohol abuse organisation.

Graham, who was of previous clean character, was fined £300 and banned from driving for 17 months.

He was also ordered to pay £115 in costs and a surcharge.