A SELF-EMPLOYED Llandybie dad has been banned from driving for 12 months after a friend reported him to the police for drink-driving following a late-night row at a motorway services.

Robert William James, of Castell y Graig, appeared before Llanelli magistrates to admit he had 51 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when tested by police at 1.47am on May 2. The legal limit is 35.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told the court how 26-year-old James and his friend had spent the day drinking in Llandybie, with each downing five pints of lager and a bottle of wine.

She told the court how they eventually drove to Swansea in James’ Mazda RX8 in search of more alcohol and on their return decided to stop at Pont Abraham services on the M4.

Ms Morgan told the court how both James’ friend and service station began to worry about his behaviour.

“They were concerned because he was becoming aggressive and was drunk,” Ms Morgan said.

The police were called, but when they arrived James was nowhere to be found although his car remained in the car park.

He eventually reappeared having begun to walk home along the dual carriageway, only to change his mind and return to the service station.

When asked by officers if he was drunk, James replied: “I was obviously over the limit but the car is still in one piece so I was obviously capable of driving.”

Steve Lloyd, defending, said James disputed parts of the prosecution case but accepted he had been over the limit.

“The reason the police became involved was because of the friend who had been drinking with him and got in the car and went to Swansea with him,”

said Mr Lloyd.

“They got into an argument about a completely separate issue.

“The friend called the police because they had had a falling out.”

Magistrates banned James from driving for 12 months and fined him £250. They also ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £15 legal surcharge.