A FATHER from a North Somerset village has been disqualified from driving after drunkenly crashing his car into a telegraph pole.

Stephen Evans, aged 32, was almost twice the legal drink-drive limit when he crashed his Skoda Octavia in Claverham Road, Yatton, on March 22.

Magistrates at North Somerset Courthouse heard on April 13 that Evans, who is married and lives in Brunel Way, Yatton, was breathalysed four times by police before a reading of 63 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath was eventually accepted. The legal driving limit is 35 micrograms.

May Lee, prosecuting, told the court: “Mr Evans’ vehicle collided with a telegraph pole, which brought the electricity wires down.

“The fire brigade and the police attended. There was no-one with the vehicle when they arrived, but a police officer who attended the scene quickly found Mr Evans about a five-minute walk away from the vehicle.

“He denied having driven it, and was found to be extremely drunk and was unsteady on his feet. The vehicle’s keys were in his pocket and the police were able to establish that he was connected to the incident.”

Evans pleaded guilty to one charge of driving a motor vehicle when above the alcohol limit.

Magistrates disqualified Evans from driving for 17 months, fined him £350 and ordered him to pay £80 costs and a victim surcharge of £20.