An Audi driver who crashed his car into a telegraph pole had downed three pints before deciding to get behind the wheel.

A court heard George Harrison had been offered a fourth pint by friends but declined the drink as he wanted to get to his pal’s home so he could have a chat as he was feeling down.

However, after getting behind the wheel the 26-year-old lost control of his Audi Q5 on Pilgrims Way, Kemsing, on October 7, and crashed it into the telegraph pole, knocking it over.

Harrison, of Beech Mast, Vigo Village, near Gravesend, was charged with drink-driving and appeared before magistrates in Maidstone earlier this month, where he admitted the offence.

Rajni Prashar, prosecuting, told the court Harrison was asked to provide a urine sample and when it was tested he gave a reading of 134 milligrams milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. The legal limit is 107.

The prosecutor added: “There was a road traffic crash and a vehicle had hit a telegraph pole and it fell over.

“He failed a roadside test, but was taken to hospital because of the crash, and a urine sample was taken and the reading was 134.”

The bench also heard Harrison had been drinking at a rugby club earlier that day but after being offered a fourth pint he declined as he wanted to drive a short distance to his friend’s home for some support as he was a bit down.

The court heard he had no previous convictions and was usually a sensible man, but made a mistake and regrets what happened and that it was out of character for him.

Magistrates told Harrison he was a danger to other road users and it was just lucky no one else had been injured in the collision.

They fined him £279 for the offence and banned him from driving for 12 months.

Harrison was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £112, as well as £85 court costs. If he completes a drink-driving course, his ban will be reduced by a quarter.