A PENSIONER has lost his licence after being caught more than three times the drink-drive limit.
Michael Hayward, of Maelor Close in Pentre Broughton, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The 68-year-old admitted that on March 16 this year, he drove a Citroen C5 in Farndon after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath exceeded the prescribed limit.
Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told the court that just before 6pm on the day in question, police received a 999 call from a member of the public who spotted the defendant driving in an "extremely poor manner" at Llan y Pwll.
Officers located the defendant's vehicle and stopped it at Quarry Hill.
A positive roadside breath test led to his arrest, following which he gave a reading of 115 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; more than three times the legal limit of 35.
A probation officer told the court a "number of factors" had led up to the offence, in particular a forthcoming MRI scan to see if he potentially has prostate cancer; which his father had died from.
The officer told the court: "He was 50 yards away from where his parents are buried when he was stopped.
"He was going to see them at the graveyard.
"Mr Hayward didn't try to minimise his responsibility and he understands how wrong it is."
The court heard prior to retirement, Hayward had been an aircraft fitter.
David Matthews, defending, told the court: "This certainly is an unusual case.
"Mr Hayward is a man with no previous convictions who worked for 27 years in Airbus; he's been a pillar of the community.
"But after his retirement, he has suffered poor mental health and has had some physical issues.
"There have been family problems and issues which have arisen; and the day in question was one of those.
"Mr Hayward became overwhelmed with emotion about what was going on at home.
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"To say he's remorseful is an understatement; he's genuinely ashamed. It is a sad case."
The Magistrates accepted the offence was out of character for the defendant and opted to fine him for the offence.
As such, he must pay a £576 fine, £230 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
He was also banned from driving for 23 months.
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