A drink driver arrested on a warrant for failing to attend a court hearing later received an apology from magistrates for the “way he’d been treated”.

Andrew Hawkins, from Hartley, was stopped by police in his vehicle on January 17, after they said they had seen him drive the wrong way around a roundabout.

The 69-year-old failed a breath test and was later charged and bailed.

He was given a court date of February 27, but because he was attending his brother’s funeral that day he didn’t attend the hearing.

Hawkins, of Wellfield, Hartley, near Longfield, had called the court on the day he was due to inform them of the reason and he was told to send an email to confirm the situation and did so.

However, the message was never passed on to magistrates that day and a warrant was later issued for his arrest because he failed to show up.

He was arrested by police at 2pm on March 16 on the warrant and kept in custody until the next day when he was hauled into the dock at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court where he admitted the offence.

James Nichols, prosecuting, said: “Police stopped the vehicle because of the manner of his driving and this was just before midnight.

“He was given a breath test and gave a reading of 50 micrograms, he’s of previous good character.”

The legal drink-drive limit in the UK is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Simon Holmes, defending, explained the situation to magistrates as Hawkins remained in the dock.

He added: “He didn’t attend on February 27, as it was his brother’s funeral and he called the court and was told to send an email and he did.

“He heard no more about it, but was then arrested at 2pm yesterday and it’s shocking circumstances (for him) and he’s of previous good character.”

Mr Holmes also told the court it was completely out of character for Hawkins to drive while over the legal limit.

He said: “His mental health has suffered as a result of losing his brother and he’d been to a working man’s club and had three pints in three hours, it was foolish on his part.

“And he disputes he went the wrong way around a roundabout, he doesn’t accept that and it was a mini roundabout.

“He does driving for a living and earns £1,400 a month as he’s part-time.”

Magistrates later apologised to Hawkins before they banned him from driving.

I can only apologise for the way you’ve been treated

Chairman of the bench, Jill Stephens, said: “You have pleaded guilty to this offence and that’s to your credit.

“I can only apologise for the way you’ve been treated. I don’t know what happened [the mix-up over the warrant being issued] and we are very sorry.

“We are going to ban you for 12 months and offer you the drink driving course and if you complete the course by October 16, 2025, your disqualification will end on December 16, 2025.

“If you don’t do the course your ban will end on March 16, 2026.”

Hawkins was also fined £80 for the offence but was told he wouldn’t have to pay the amount as it would be deemed as time served in custody.

But he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32 as well as £85 court costs and will pay what he owes the court in full within 28 days.