A carpenter who tried to drive off in a different direction when he saw police was found to be over the limit.

Sam Crisford was spotted in his van in Mill Street, Maidstone by officers in an unmarked car who smelt boze on him when they pulled him over.

He failed a roadside breath test and was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

A further test at the police station saw him give a reading of 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Crisford, of Westwood Road, Maidstone, was later charged with drink-driving and admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates on Tuesday (August 15).

Prosecutor Christina Rowberry told the bench Crisford was pulled over during the early hours July 12.

She added: “He recognised it was police in an unmarked vehicle and tried to go in a different direction, so the officers decided to stop him.

“He failed the roadside breath test at 1.23am.”

The court heard Crisford only drove his van that night because something had happened that meant he had to go home.

Magistrates were also told that he didn’t know if he would be able to keep his job if he got banned and that it was out of character for him to drive after drinking.

Chairman of the bench, Diane Chambers, said: “You made the wrong call.”

Magistrates decided to ban him from driving for 17 months which will be reduced by a quarter if her completes a drink-driving course.

He was also fined £300 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120 and £85 in court costs.