A MOTORCYCLIST crashed into a lamppost after driving with nearly double the legal limit of alcohol in his system, a court heard.

Kethelmir Palma, of Orford Way, in Malvern, drove his Suzuki GSF600 bike along Worcester Road in Powick, near Worcester, with 127 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood on Friday, December 9. The legal limit is 80 mg/100ml.

The 29-year-old appeared at Worcester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, March 2, and admitted drink-driving.

Roger Bleazard, prosecuting, said: "He had been out with a friend, had been drinking."

Gary Harper, defending, said: "Mr Palma is a man of good character. He can't remember a great deal about what happened on the night. He banged his head quite badly and had to go to hospital.

"He did know that when he first went out he wasn't intending to drive his motorcycle on his way back. He has never done anything like this before."

The court heard Mr Palma works with an agency, and is currently employed as a cleaner.

"It is much easier to obtain agency work if you can drive," added Mr Harper. "There will be a knock-on effect as far as his lifestyle is concerned."

Chairman of the bench, Fiona James, said: "As you know, for the offence you have committed we have to disqualify you from driving – it is not anything we have discretion about."

She disqualified Palma from driving for one year and fined him £110, alongside £135 in court costs, and £30 victim surcharge.