A FORMER F1 mechanic found his car on top of a Swindon roundabout after driving on the M4 from Heathrow on his way to South Wales when he was more than four times over the drink-drive limit.

Richard Ford, of Burton Villas, Caerwent, Caldicot, appeared before magistrates in Swindon today to be sentenced for one charge of drink driving on December 27 when he provided a sample of breath containing 149 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Ford, 50, who is currently a senior member of cabin crew for British Airways, had previously pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court heard he had been a passenger on board a flight back from Singapore and had drunk red wine and port on the flight before getting in a Mercedes C180 and driving 65 miles from the airport towards his home in South Wales.

Approaching Swindon he decided to pull over and stay at a hotel when he crashed his car on top of a roundabout on Great Western Way.

Prosecuting, Nick Barr told the court: “At 8.15am Mr Ford came into the Hilton hotel and spoke to a member of staff and said he needed help moving his car as he had broken down.

"He was a bit concerned about where his car was. He told the member of staff it was on a roundabout, and when he went outside he saw it is literally on the roundabout.”

Police attended the scene and Ford failed a roadside breath test. He was taken to Gablecross Police Station where he blew a reading of 149mcg.

Defending him, Sebastian Winnett told the court Ford held a respected position within BA, but it was a difficult job and he worked long and anti-social hours. He pointed out that Ford had been travelling as a passenger on-board the flight which led him to become intoxicated.

He said: “There is a bit of a drinking culture among BA staff and on the flight back he indulges in the free alcohol.

"Normally when he gets back to Heathrow he uses public transport to get back to South Wales, it is cheaper and it means he can sleep. He doesn’t know for whatever reason he decided to drive.”

Mr Winnet explained Ford was a “functioning alcoholic” which is why he had appeared “relatively coherent” when he first spoke to police.

“The problem seems to have developed after the death of his father in 2008, which came as somewhat of a surprise as he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and took the decision to keep that from his family,” he said.

“The shock hit him quite hard.

“That was the start of his clinical depression and alcoholism.”

The court further heard that prior to his job working for BA he had worked in the Formula 1 industry as a race day mechanic, with one of his tasks being to change the wheels of the cars when they were in the pit.

Hearing that Ford was “clearly remorseful” for what he had done, chairman of the bench Felicity Dowell told him: “This was a very, very high reading and I would hate to think what it would have been when you left Heathrow.

"I have been a magistrate for 25 years and I have never had anyone which as high a reading as the one you blew. We believe it is serious enough for a prison sentence.”

She sentenced him to a 20-week prison sentence, reduced to 15 due to his guilty plea which was suspended.

She said: “Time served in prison will not help your alcohol problem and we feel it would be better served in the community where you can get some help.”

Ford was also ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work, pay a fine of £575, court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £58. He was also disqualified from driving for 36 months.