A MAN who was behind the wheel despite being nearly twice the legal drink drive limit has been fined hundreds of pounds and banned from driving for more than a year.

Robert Seager, of Appleton Mews, Colchester, was stopped by police on Friday, September 9 when he was driving a Peugeot 207 in Lexden Road.

When given a breathalyser test by police officers, he was found to have a proportion of 69 micrograms of alcohol per 100 mls of breath. The legal limit is 35.

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The 32-year-old, who admitted the offence at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 4, was ordered to pay £390 in fines.

He was also required to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £156, plus costs of £105 to the Crow Prosecution Service.

It means the total fine Seager must pay amounts to £651.

Additionally, Seager has been disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 17 months although this may be reduced to just over a year if he completes a Government approved drink-driving rehabilitation course by September next year.