A FEW drinks with a friend after helping him move house has cost a Swindon man his driving licence for the next 18 months.

Marcin Janusz Nowakowski, 34, of Colbourne Street, appeared before magistrates in Swindon on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

The court heard that on November 19 this year Nowakowski was driving his Mercedes car at 54 mph on the Great Western Way where the speed limit is 30mph.

He was stopped by police and failed a roadside breath test. At Gablecross Police Station a full reading recorded 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Defending, Mark Glendenning told the court that Nowakowski had made a misjudgement.

“He had taken a friend to live in Cardiff, had a couple of drinks and then drove back to Swindon after saying goodbye to his friend,” Mr Glendenning said.

The magistrates disqualified Nowakowski from driving for 18 months, fined him £120 and ordered him to pay £85 court costs and £30 victim surcharge.

Bench chairman Debbie Slater told him that if he took a drink-drive rehabilitation course he could drive again on January 21, 2018. If he did not take the course the ban would remain in place until June 6, 2018.