A BMW driver has been banned from the road after getting behind the wheel while over the legal drink-drive limit.

Eric-Ray Smith decided he would drive his car home after a "pint or two" while out dancing with a friend at the Tap 'N' Tin in Chatham.

The 25-year-old had been at a Wetherspoons pub before heading to the club.

However, after leaving during the early hours of the morning, Smith, of Symonds Road, Cliffe, was spotted and pulled over behind the wheel of his car at about 3am as he drove along Commercial Road, Strood, on August 25.

When given a breath test, he gave a reading of 56 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He was charged with drink-driving and admitted the offence when he appeared before Medway Magistrates on September 14.

Defending himself, Smith said: "I was trying to get home, I'd been with a friend in the club and had been to Spoons first and had a pint or two. I drank water for the rest of the night."

The court also heard after he'd left the club and got back to his car he found he'd been given a parking fine, so had decided to move it and drive home.

Smith also told magistrates he didn't feel he was drunk when he got behind the wheel but admitted he should have got a taxi home.

The bench were also told Smith had no previous convictions.

Magistrates decided to ban Smith from driving for 12 months and fined him £110. He was also ordered to pay a £44 victim surcharge and £85 costs.