AN ex-soldier who was found to be more than twice the legal limit has been banned for 18 months.

Burnley magistrates heard how Russell Wilmot, 26, had been doing the cooking at a barbecue, had been brought drinks and thought they were lager shandies. Police were said to have stopped him at about 1am because he was driving fast and swerving in the road.

Jobless Wilmot, who has served in Afghanistan and Germany, gave a test which revealed 72 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. The defendant, of Sunningdale Gardens, Burnley, was fined £110, with £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. He admitted driving with excess alcohol on July 20.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said police on duty saw the defendant on Finsley Gate, Burnley. He was stopped, smelled of alcohol and gave a positive roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to the police station. Daniel Frazer, for Wilmot, told the court he would say he wasn't pulled over and drove to his destination.

He had been to see some old friends and they were bringing him drinks. He was under the impression he was drinking shandies and had about five of them. Mr Frazer continued: “He spoke to his friends after and it was discovered he wasn't drinking lager shandies. There is some suggestion other things were put into his drink as well.”