A WORCESTER man who admitted getting behind the wheel when he was nearly four times over the drink drive limit has been spared jail - despite city magistrates describing his breathalyser reading as one of the highest they had ever seen.

Alan Crawford, of Hydrangea Close, appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday, July 15, where he pleaded guilty to drink driving.

Jackie Rogers, prosecuting, told the court the 63-year-old had been drinking at the Swan Inn, in Malvern, on June 2 and got into his car.

Mrs Rogers said a member of the public called the police after Crawford was spotted reversing and making small contact with a parked vehicle.

Police went to his home address, where the vehicle was listed, and on arrival he was seen by officers standing next to the vehicle, a BMW, with the keys in his hand.

After being arrested he later failed a breathalyser test, the lowest reading showing he had 136 mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit being 35mcg/100ml.

Defending, Robert Skinner, said at the pub Crawford had drunk six pints of cider. Mr Skinner said usually he would get a taxi home, but on this occasion he made the mistake of driving.

"He had not done anything like this before, it is entirely out of character," Mr Skinner said.

Mr Skinner said Crawford became a regular drinker after becoming depressed following the death of his mother in May 2014, pointing out the date of the offence was near to the second anniversary of her death.

He had worked as an interpreter, but he resigned from the job due to his problems, and had been getting help from Swanswell alcohol recovery service.

He added there was no evidence of bad driving.

In sentencing magistrates stressed it was an "incredibly high reading" - one of the highest they had ever seen - and a custodial sentence was considered.

Crawford was banned from driving for 32 months. The drink driver course, which can reduce this sentence, was not offered to him.

He was given a 12 month community order, and will need to attend 16 driving impaired awareness sessions.

Crawford was told he will need to complete 280 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85, as well as costs of £135 - a total of £220.