A FORMER solicitor was nearly three times the drink drive limit when he argued with a police officer in a shop after he told him to move his car.

Michael Jackson was inside a shop in Moat Way, Malvern when an officer followed him inside and challenged him about the way he had parked which he said was causing an obstruction.

The 58-year-old of Red Earl Lane, Malvern admitted driving with excess alcohol on August 9 when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

When he entered the court Jackson was visibly shaking and urged to 'calm down' by Chris Mitchell, the chairman of the magistrates bench.

Jackson, who suffers from generalised anxiety disorder, said: "Don't tell me to calm down. It acts as a trigger."

Mr Mitchell warned him not to speak to him in that way and Jackson apologised.

Sarah Hurd, prosecuting, said an officer had been approaching the junction of Moat Way when he saw a Volvo parked with its hazard lights on at the junction.

"He is of the opinion the car was blocking the road and causing an obstruction" said Miss Hurd.

The officer spoke to a woman in the car who told him her son was inside the shop and the officer went inside to speak to him, asking that he move the car.

Miss Hurd said: "There's a little bit of banter between the two and his language isn't the best. In that conversation the officer can smell a very strong smell of alcohol on his breath."

A breath test was positive and Jackson was arrested.

"Mr Jackson is argumentative and aggressive, swearing at and attempting to belittle the officer" said Miss Hurd.

At the police station an evidential sample was taken which showed 104mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, close to three times the 35mcg limit.

Jackson had no previous convictions.

Sarah Brady, defending, said the father-of-three had previously qualified to work as a solicitor before suffering a nervous breakdown in 1999 and he divorced in 2004.

Mrs Brady said: "He lives in rather strained circumstances. He has worked when he can."

Jackson had a job in Waitrose in Malvern for four years, moving the trolleys, but that ended in January last year.

She said his anxiety disorder made it difficult for him to find work he was able to cope with and that he could panic in a social or group situation.

"Anything out of the ordinary he struggles with" she said.

Despite that she said he did perform voluntary work as an instructor for the marine cadets where he provided 'a valuable contribution', something he prided himself on.

Mrs Brady added: "He accepts he now drinks every day, perhaps a bottle of wine every day."

Jackson had been driving for 42 years with only one fixed penalty notice.

Magistrates banned him from driving for 24 months. He was also handed a nine month community order to include six months of alcohol treatment and five days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

They also fined him £73, ordered him to pay court costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £85.

He was offered a drink drive course which he must complete by February 19, 2019 to take advantage of a 25 per cent discount in the length of the ban.