A Lithuanian who was caught driving in Holbeach while one-and-a-half times over the legal limit made a “miscalculation,” a court heard.
Ramunas Erzikevicius (38) was stopped by police when driving along Boston Road South on October 8.
He was found to have 53 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35 microgrammes.
Erzikevicius, of Carver Road, Boston, was given a 12-month driving ban by Spalding magistrates last Thursday after admitting to driving his Audi when above the alcohol level limit.
Edward Johnson, prosecuting, said Erzikevicius was pulled over by a police officer who smelt alcohol on his breath and a breath test taken afterwards proved positive.
“The police officer asked Erzikevicius when he had last drank alcohol and was told the previous night,” Mr Johnson said.
Rachel Stevens, mitigating, said Erzikevicius was pulled over because his car was previously owned by a disqualified driver and not because he was driving carelessly.
“There was no criticism, complaint or concern about his driving and Erzikevicius was confident that he was fine because he’d had nothing to drink for 12 hours,” Miss Stevens said.
“He believed the smell of alcohol was from the other three occupants of the car who were very drunk.
“Clearly that was a miscalculation on his part and he has accepted that he was over the limit.”
Miss Stevens said Erzikevicius was “devastated and “extremely remorseful” about his actions.
He was fined £200, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.