Seat drink driver flipped car in Leamington Road, Broadway

Andrei-sebastion Lixandru, of The Fish House, Farncombe Drive, Broadway, was hit with a lengthy ban when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Owen Beale, prosecuting, said officers were called to a road traffic collision in Leamington Road, Broadway, at 7pm on December 23 last year.

"The defendant had managed to overturn his vehicle (a Seat Leon). 

"The car was on its side.

COURT: Andrei-sebastion Lixandru (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

"He was clearly concerned for his passenger.

"He was quite candid with officers that he had drunk three gin and tonics before driving."

After failing a roadside breathalyser test Lixandru was taken to the police station. 

While there, the evidential specimen of breath given by the 24-year-old was 57mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which is above the legal limit of 35mcg.

In police interview Lixandru said he had drunk prosecco and gin throughout the afternoon, but said he didn't believe he was over the limit when he got behind the wheel.

"He accepted he should not of driven that night," Mr Beale said. 

"The offence is aggravating by him being involved in a car accident."

Lixandru, who had no previous convictions, was asked if there was anything he wanted to say by the court clerk. 

COURT: Andrei-sebastion Lixandru's case was heard at Worcester Magistrates Court

He repeated that he had not thought he was over the limit before adding: "I just want to apologise.

"There were no casualties - I'm lucky. There are no excuses I can make."

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Asked about his job Lixandru told magistrates he was working at The Fish House hotel, where he had live-in accommodation and was earning around £2,000 a month. 

After magistrates' deliberations Ian Latimer, chairman of the magistrates bench, said: "This is a serious offence.

"A vehicle overturned, you had a passenger in the car."

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Lixandru was disqualified from driving for 18 months but was given the chance to take the drink-driving awareness course which, if he successfully completes, will reduce the ban by 18 weeks. 

Lixandru was fined £484 and ordered to pay costs of £135 and victim surcharge of £194. 

Lixandru offered to pay the total, £813, in full within 28 days.

The case was heard at the court on Thursday, (January 19).