A man who careered across the carriageway of the A303 striking the central reservation and then leaving the road was found to be nearly double the drink drive limit.

The police were called to the scene of the accident near Wincanton and discovered Stephen Hervin trapped in his car which had rolled down an embankment and had become wedged in undergrowth.

When they managed to get him out of the vehicle the defendant started staggering around and smelt of alcohol and admitted he had been drinking.

Hervin, a 58-year-old HGV driver of Fore Street, Chudleigh, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on the A303 at Wincanton on June 8 after consuming excess alcohol.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that a man was driving on the A303 near Wincanton when he noticed the vehicle in front which was being driven by the defendant.

“It was meandering across the road and then struck the central reservation before bouncing off and leaving the carriageway,” she said.

“When police arrived at the scene they could see some disturbed undergrowth so they climbed down a steep bank and found the vehicle on its roof and wedged in more undergrowth.

“The defendant was inside and appeared to be on his knees so the officers managed to get him out and he was staggering around and smelt of alcohol.

“He was asked to do a roadside breath test and was caught on police body-worn camera saying he had consumed about four pints just two hours earlier.”

Hervin was taken to hospital to be checked over following the accident and while there complied with a blood test and produced a reading of 146mlg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mlg of alcohol.

Ray Peters, defending, said that his client had a clean driving licence and had just attended an Army reunion and intended to stay overnight at the venue.

“However he was unable to stay so decided to spend the night in his car, but when he returned he foolishly decided that, as he felt able to do so, he would drive home,” he said.

“This was a decision which he now very much regrets because the accident occurred and he was then taken to Musgrove Park Hospital by the police and provided a positive blood sample.”

Mr Peters said that his court appearance marked a sad day for Hervin as he had been employed for the last 20 years as an HGV driver and would now lose his job as a result of the disqualification.

“At 58 he realises it is now going to be very difficult for him to find work,” he added.

The magistrates told the defendant that the accident had been an aggravating feature in the case and said he could have seriously hurt himself or somebody else.

They banned him from driving for 17 months and fined him £334 with £85 costs and a £33 victim surcharge.

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