A CATERER from Chester drank and drove despite having previously attended two courses on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Heath Bradsell, 47, of Parkgate Court, claimed he had just had a drink at The Mill in Upton when police officers stopped him as he drove out of the pub car park.

But a breath test showed he had 78 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, which is more than twice the legal limit of 35.

Chester Magistrates Court heard on Friday (March 22) that police had received an anonymous tip-off that Bradsell was drink-driving.

Rob Youds, prosecuting, said the defendant had a total of five previous convictions for six offences, including two for drink driving in 2003 and 2009.

On both occasions he was offered and undertook a drink-driving awareness course aimed at highlighting the dangers of the offence and the devastating impact it can have on families.

Defending, Adam Antoszkiw stressed his client had accepted what he had done and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Bradsell was fined £400 and disqualified from driving for 40 months. He must also pay £85 court costs and a £40 victim surcharge.

Chair of magistrates Andrew Merrill told him: “Given you’ve already had two goes at the drink-drive awareness course, which obviously hasn’t sunk in, we will not be offering that to you.”