Police spent minutes trying to wake up a drunk motorist who had fallen asleep in the driver’s seat with keys in the ignition.

Jack Cumby was found by officers asleep inside his Kia Rio in London Road, Dunton Green, in September, after police received reports a car was parked at a T-junction where the road meets Morants Court Road.

The 20-year-old had drunk so much he fell asleep with his phone in his hand and when officers arrived on the scene, it took them three or four minutes to rouse him.

When they did wake him, his speech was slurred and he was given a roadside breath test, which proved positive and he was arrested.

Cumby, of Tandridge Drive, Orpington, was later charged with being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal limit and admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates in Sevenoaks on October 3.

The court heard when given further breath tests at the station on September 14, he gave a reading of 60 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Julia French, prosecuting, said: “There were two males in the vehicle and he was in the driver’s seat and the keys were in the ignition.

“Officers tried to wake him as he slept with his phone in his hand and it took them three or four minutes to rouse him.

“He was then slurring his words and a roadside test proved positive.”

Magistrates were told Cumby was of previous good character.

Kelly Dobson, defending, told the court her client was a mobile electrical engineer and is required to drive for his job.

She added: “It’s a very expensive mistake for him, he is a new driver and passed his test less than two years ago and if he gets more than 10 points on his licence, the DVLA will revoke it.

“His work is mobile and they are NHS contracts and he also picks up two other people for work.”

The possible punishments magistrates can give for being drunk in charge of a vehicle are different to those for drink-driving.

On conviction, the defendant is not automatically given a 12-month disqualification from driving, instead, they could face a fine plus 10 penalty points on their licence, or a ban.

Magistrates decided to ban Cumby for 21 days for the offence and fined him £189, as well as ordering him to pay a victim surcharge of £76, and £85 in additional court costs.