A COUPLE driving back from a wedding reception ended up in hospital after being hit by a drink-driver on the wrong side of the road, magistrates in Swindon heard.

Agricultural contractor Tony Elliott, 28, pleaded guilty to driving while above the legal alcohol limit and to driving without due care and attention.

Nick Barr, prosecuting, told the court that on September 25 last year Elliott was driving his Honda Civic on the B4696 at Braydon, near Swindon, when he failed to negotiate a bend and ended up driving on the wrong side of the road.

The Civic then hit a car being driven by Susan Rawlings. Elliott and Mr and Mrs Rawlings were all taken to Great Western Hospital in Swindon for treatment.

A blood test revealed that Elliott had a level of 104 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50 millilitres.

Mr Barr read to the court an email sent by the daughter of Mr and Mrs Rawlings stating that as a result of the accident Mrs Rawlings had been in a neck brace for three months, had suffered severe bruising and oedema in her stomach.

Mr Rawlings had suffered damage to his lungs and was still undergoing tests. Neither was able to run their farming business, the email stated.

Defending, Sambreen Arif said that Elliott had been clearing out slurry from a lagoon and had gone to a pub in Moreton in Marsh after work. He felt he was fit to drive and knew the route well.

As this was a second drink-drive offence with an automatic three-year ban, Elliott, who had been driving tractors since the age of 16, was now unemployed.

Magistrates disqualified Elliott of London Road, Calne from driving for 38 months and ordered him to complete 60 hours of unpaid work in the community. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £60.

Elliott elected to attend a drink drivers’ rehabilitation course which would reduce the disqualification by 41 weeks.