A DRIVER caught behind the wheel while over the legal alcohol limit on New Year’s Day has been banned from the road.

Igor Silva, of Northfields, Knutsford, admitted having 49 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, at Chester Magistrates’ Court on January 23.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The 28-year-old failed a breath test when he was driving a Land Rover Range Rover Sport on Solvay Road in Northwich on New Year’s Day, the court heard.

On the same day, Silva also pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Magistrates took his guilty plea into consideration and endorsed his licence but did not impose a separate penalty for this offence.

For being over the legal alcohol limit, Silva was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

This could be reduced to 14 weeks if he completes a drink-drive rehabilitation course before October 14, this year.

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The defendant was also fined £150 and ordered to pay £120 costs and £60 victim surcharge.

Silva was granted permission to pay the £330 court penalty at a rate of £10 per week starting on February 20.