A DRINK-driver rolled his car and hit a telegraph pole, a court was told.

Michael Tripp, aged 42, overturned the vehicle and hit a telegraph pole in Hanley Castle, near Upton, on Sunday, October 30 this year, Worcester Magistrates Court heard.

Karen Cockitt, prosecuting, said Tripp, of Kingfisher Drive, Cheltenham, was driving his Mercedes on the B4211 Worcester Road when he crashed at about 9.10am.

Police attended the scene and Tripp admitted he had been drinking the night before.

Miss Cockitt said Tripp failed a breathalyser test that showed he had 67mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit being 35mcg/100ml.

Barry Newton, defending, said Tripp had been to a social evening the night before where he drank champagne and "his glass was constantly topped up".

Mr Newton said he made the error of judgment in driving the next morning, believing he was not over the limit.

He said Tripp, a helicopter engineer who worked for 13 years in the Navy, deeply regretted the incident and was now at risk of losing his employment.

Tripp admitted drink-driving and was banned from the road for 17 months, which will be reduced by 17 weeks if he completes a drink-drive awareness course.

He was also fined £900, and ordered to pay court costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £90.