A MAN who drove through Worcestershire while over the legal alcohol limit and using his mobile phone has been banned for 12 months.

Henry Hodges, of Long Marston, Stratford -upon-Avon, was driving his Mercedes lorry on the A46 to Evesham at 11.20am on Saturday, June 21, when police saw him using a phone.

At Worcester Magistrates Court 51-year-old Hodges pleaded guilty to two offences.

Marie Watton, prosecuting, said: “A test at the police station revealed he had 88mcg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, the legal limit being 80mcg.”

Amer Hussain, defending, told magistrates his client did not know he was over the limit and was not making a prolonged phone call.

Hodges was banned for 12 months for drink driving, plus eight months for using a mobile phone while driving to run concurrently.

He was ordered to pay a £660 fine, £60 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.