A SITE foreman who was living in his car after the breakdown of his marriage drove the vehicle while almost four times the legal limit.

Timothy Salt’s estranged wife noticed the car, which he was living in after leaving the marital home in Warwick Road, Clacton, was being moved at various intervals and called police on October 24 because she suspected he had been drinking and then getting behind the wheel.

Sharon Hall, prosecuting, said Salt was not actually seen driving the vehicle, but admitted doing so when arrested and interviewed by police.

“His wife said she kept seeing the vehicle change position.

“When she saw him his eyes were glazed and he was unsteady on his feet,” said Mrs Hall.

A breath test carried out by police showed 138mcg of alcohol. The legal limit is 35.

Russell Haldane, mitigating, said the breakdown of his marriage after 25 years in September had hit Salt, 46, hard and he had turned to drink. He was living in his car and drinking heavily.

“He was informed by a resident he had to move his car or it would be towed away,” he said.

Mr Haldane said Salt had begun to seek help for his alcohol problem, but having been remanded in custody for a week this had served as a form of de-tox for him.

The court heard Salt, who had admitted a charge of drink-driving at an earlier hearing and appeared before magistrates in Colchester yesterday for sentencing, had not been in trouble before.

“The vehicle only appears to have been moved a short distance, around the corner,” added Mr Haldane.

Magistrates told Salt they had to take into consideration the fact that he was so far over the legal limit and jailed him for eight weeks. He was also banned from driving for 30 months.