A MAN pleaded not guilty to drink driving - claiming he was suffering from diminished responsibility.

Appearing before Swindon Magistrates’ Court via video link from Melksham police station, Devizes man Christopher Padget, 44, of Hillworth Road, denied being behind the wheel of a Range Rover Sport near his home when the amount of alcohol in his system was almost twice the legal limit.

The charge was dated Wednesday, April 8.

Turning down the opportunity to be represented by the duty solicitor, he told he court he was denying the offence on the grounds of diminished responsibility. “I suffer from bi-polar. I am very unwell at the moment. I’d like to plead not guilty on the grounds of diminished responsibility,” he said.

Judge Peter Crabtree, sitting as a district judge, bailed him to appear before the magistrates’ court on May 26.

He has two bail conditions: not to get in the front seats of a car and to live and sleep at his home address on Hillworth Road.

Judge Crabtree said: "You can be given lifts in the back seat."

Padget told the judge: "I will follow those conditions to the letter."