A comment miss-heard by an off-duty police officer led to an appearance in the dock for a management consultant.

Brian Edwards, of White Hill Close, Caterham, Surrey, pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday.

The court heard that an off-duty police officer contacted his colleagues just after midnight on February 11.

He reported that he had seen a man getting into a Kia Optima outside a local hotel, while apparently stating that he was over the limit.

Officers could smell alcohol when they stopped the 56 year-old on the A4075 at Carew. He was found to have 47mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit is 35mg.

The bench heard that he had no previous convictions.

Mark Layton, defending, told the court that Edwards had been referring to his son when he mentioned being over the limit, and believed he was fine to drive.

“Mr Edwards believed he was within the limit, he did not think he was over.”

Mr Layton added that the loss of his licence would impact Edwards’ work as a management consultant, as he had to travel throughout the country.

Magistrates fined Edwards £440 and banned him from driving for 12 months.

He was ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £44 surcharge.