A STREET pensioner who was found over the drink-drive limit following a tip-off to the police has been given a 12-month driving ban.

A police officer was on patrol in the South Street car park after receiving intelligence of a potential-drink driver and saw a vehicle being driven by Lawrence Board.

After pulling the defendant over, the officer could smell alcohol on his breath but, when asked to take a breath test at the roadside, he became argumentative.

He was arrested after giving a positive result and appeared in the dock before Somerset magistrates at Yeovil.

Board, aged 72, of Strode Road, pleaded guilty to driving a Vauxhall Vectra on Elmurst Lane in Street on July 23 after consuming excess alcohol.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that when the defendant was taken into custody he was argumentative again when asked to take a second breath test.

However he eventually complied and produced a reading of 43mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mcg of alcohol.

Appearing before the court unrepresented, Board declined to make any comment and told the court he was just a pensioner.

Alongside the disqualification the magistrates fined him £140 with £85 costs and a £56 victim surcharge.