A FORMER licensee who was more than three times the drink-drive limit after drinking at a pub was caught after police were tipped off.

Adrian McArthur, of Skylark Drive, Pershore, only had a short walk home from the pub but made the wrong decision to drive there instead, Worcester magistrates heard.

Owen Beale, defending, said the 50-year-old had been drinking in a public house on November 3 when police were notified of a concern he was going to drive home in his Nissan parked outside. 

"They attended and saw him drive," the prosecutor said. 

Worcester News: COURT: Adrian McArthur leaving Worcester Magistrates CourtCOURT: Adrian McArthur leaving Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

"They stopped him."

After McArthur got out his vehicle in Wyre Road, Pershore, the defendant failed a roadside breathalyser test and was taken to the police station. 

There he gave an evidential sample of 87mcg in 100ml of alcohol - the legal limit being 35mcg. 

Mr Beale said prior to admitting the drink driving offence McArthur had no previous convictions. 

Mr Grogan, defending, said: "He has been a man of good character.

"He passed his test at 17 years old, he turned 50 a few days ago."

Worcester News: CASE: Adrian McArthur's case was heard at Worcester Magistrates CourtCASE: Adrian McArthur's case was heard at Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Newsquest)

The solicitor said McArthur had been drinking that afternoon and made the foolish decision to drive when he should have just walked home. 

The solicitor said that the defendant guessed someone at the pub must have made the report to the police and he would have preferred if they had spoke to him which would have stopped him driving. 

But, Mr Grogan added, McArthur fully accepted it was fault for committing the offence.

The solicitor told magistrates McArthur became a licensee of a pub in January 2020 but couldn't make it work, losing the employment earlier this year. 

McArthur was disqualified from driving for 20 months but was given the chance to do a drink-drive awareness course which, if successfully completed, will reduce the ban length by 20 weeks. 

Kevin Lloyd-Wright, chairman of the magistrates bench, told McArthur he was also being fined £120 and will have to pay costs of £135 and victim surcharge of £48. 

Magistrates agreed that the £303 total could be taken regularly from the benefits he is receiving.

The case was heard at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, (November 23).