A BUSINESSMAN blamed a bad day at work after he was found parked up on a roundabout nearly five times over the drink drive limit.

David Mather, of Barbondale Close in Whittle Hall, told Warrington Magistrates' Court on Friday he had bought a bottle of vodka on his way home, after being told at work that he was going to have to make some staff, possibly even his own son, redundant.

The court heard that when police attended the roundabout near his house he resisted arrest and "a scuffle broke out".

A breath test showed the motorist had 147mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He had denied a charge of driving the vehicle while drunk and instead admitted being in charge of a motor vehicle while his alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit.

The 40-year-old also admitted obstructing a constable.

In his defence, the court was told that he had never planned to drive the vehicle home and was instead going to get a lift back home. Magistrates were also told that he very much regretted what had happened and was extremely mortified about being in court.

The court heard in his defence: "He previously had his own business which was taken over by another company. On that day the other company that had taken over said three members of staff would have to be made redundant.

"One of those eligible was his son.

"He was feeling very, very low and on the way home he extremely foolishly decided to stop at a local off licence and buy a litre bottle of vodka.

"He was parked on the roundabout but he was not impeding the traffic.

"He can't refute he was abusive to the PC as he can't remember it."

He will be sentenced at Warrington Magistrates' Court on July 26.

hcartwright@guardiangrp.co.uk