A SWINDON engineer who worked overtime to build up a deposit for his first home has had his plans halted after losing his licence for drink-driving.

Jordan James Le’Strange, 24, of Fosse Close pleaded guilty before magistrates in Swindon on Wednesday to a charge of driving a motor vehicle when above the legal alcohol limit.

Kate Prince, prosecuting, told the court that at 2.30am on Saturday, February 4, this year police approached a BMW 330 parked in Emlyn Square, Swindon with the driver at the wheel.

The driver, Le’Strange, told the officer that the engine of his car had overheated. His breath smelled of alcohol and a roadside breath test was positive, Miss Prince said.

The police station intoxilator showed a level of 56 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Gordon Hotson, defending, told the court that Le’Strange had gone out with friends after work and had been given a lift back but after being dropped off at his girlfriend’s house he foolishly drove the car because he needed cigarettes.

When the car started to overheat he stopped and topped it up with coolant, at which point the police arrived.

Mr Hotson said Le’Strange worked full time as an engineer and also attended out-of-hours emergencies at night. He was paid the overtime rate at night and was saving to buy a house.

“That clearly is not going to happen now because he will not be able to attend out-of-hours callouts,” said Mr Hotson.

Le’Strange was disqualified from driving for 15 months and fined £311. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £31.