A SELF-EMPLOYED builder, who was more than five times over the alcohol limit when he crashed trying to drive home from the pub, has been banned for almost four years.

Steven Lansdowne stalled four times trying to start his Ford Transit before crashing in the Crown Inn car park, in Churchill.

May Li, prosecuting, said a member of the public called the police on May 29 when they saw him ‘appearing very drunk’ and getting into the vehicle.

Addressing North Somerset Courthouse on June 1, she said: “He had taken 10 minutes to walk across the pub car park.

“He then stalled four times before the collision.

“Police arrived at Skinners Lane and noted a strong smell of alcohol and he appeared to fall out of the vehicle. His eyes were bloodshot and speech slurred.”

Lansdowne admitted one count of drink-driving, although disputed evidence he fell out of the van when police arrived.

He was disqualified for 46 months after the court was told it was not his first driving offence.

Lansdowne, of Bakers Lane in Langford, was given a court charge of £150, fined £400 and ordered to pay a £40 victim surcharge and to pay costs of £85.