A 63-YEAR-OLD man blemished his previously clean 40-year driving record when caught drink-driving in a Citroen C3 on his way to Tesco, an Isle of Wight court was told.

Keith Menzies, of Preston Close, Ryde, admitted drink driving on December 12 last year, when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court last Friday (5). 

Police on patrol along Great Preston Road, Ryde, at around 7.40pm, spotted Menzies driving with a defective headlight and pulled him over along Brading Road, near Tesco.

When they went to question him, officers could smell alcohol and gave him a preliminary roadside breath test, which he failed, said Lauren Stone, prosecuting.

Menzies, with no previous convictions, provided a breath reading of 55 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35.

He told the police he drank a glass of wine that afternoon.

For Menzies, Henry Farley said his client had never been in trouble before, was ashamed and "should've known better".   

"He had enjoyed a pre-Christmas celebration at home, had a drink, slept, then woke up feeling fine and decided to to go to Tesco," Mr Farley said.

"It's a shame because he had an almost 40-year history of unimpeachable driving."

Menzies was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £120, with £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.