A DRINK driver has been caught for the second time in 10 years, resulting in a long ban which will make it difficult for him to see his daughter.

Christopher O'Donoghue admitted drink driving when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

The 40-year-old of Belmont Road, Malvern was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Antara shortly before midnight on August 6 this year when he came to the attention of officers after they received reports of a 'possible drink driver' heading towards the town.

Ralph Robyns-Landricombe, prosecuting, said officers got behind the vehicle in Worcester Road, Malvern as it was heading along Malvern Link High Street.

Officers described the driving as 'erratic', O'Donoghue obeying the speed limit, accelerating to 50mph then slowing down again. The driver turned off into Albert Park Road when officers activated their blue lights.

"The officer noted he smelt of alcohol, his pupils appeared very dilated and there were bottles of what appeared to be alcohol on the front passenger seat" said the prosecutor.

At 12.07am O'Donoghue failed the roadside breath test and was arrested. The evidential reading, taken at Worcester Police Station, was 50mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, over the legal limit of 35mcg.

The defendant had two previous convictions, the most recent being from 2016 for theft by employee which resulted in a 12 month conditional discharge. However, he also had a relevant previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol in 2013 which resulted in a community order and a 24 month driving ban. Because that conviction was within the last 10 years magistrates had to ban him for at least 36 months.

Chris Hilton, defending, said his client had entered a timely guilty plea and asked that magistrates give him maximum credit. He said that the defendant was told at the time that the reason he had been stopped was a defective rear light but that it was working when tested in front of the officer.

Mr Hilton said his client, a divorced father, played in a band and had been provided with two pints that night but had not enquired about the strength of the alcohol.

"He felt fine when subsequently getting into his car and driving home" said Mr Hilton who stressed that 'no alcohol was consumed in transit'.

The solicitor said the ban would cause problems for him in seeing his child because she lived in a rural location. Using public transport, it would take him two hours and three quarters to get there.

"It's going to be an ongoing problem for him" said Mr Hilton.

He added: "He's apologetic in relation to the offence, deeply apologetic. It has significant ramifications for him."

Magistrates banned him from driving for 36 months. However, he was offered a rehabilitation course. If completed successfully - and at his own expense - it will reduce the length of his ban by 36 weeks.

He was also fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £100.