A Didcot lorry driver was aggressive and abusive when he was pulled up by police, magistrates were told.

John Betteridge, 49, of Queensway, pleaded guilty to driving a van with excess alcohol in Edwin Road, Didcot, on July 15, and was fined £160 with £40 costs and disqualified from driving for a year.

At Didcot Court (on July 23), prosecutor Claire Tucker said a breath test at the police station showed 60 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Betteridge was stopped by police at 1am. Miss Sabeeha Khan, defending, said the previous day was his daughter's birthday when he had a couple of glasses of wine.

Later in the evening, he had a drink at a pub where he played a game of darts.: "He accepts he was annoyed when police said he was stopped during a routine check." said Miss Khan.

Betteridge, who would lose his lob because of the driving ban, had taken issue with police on the question of being asked to take a roadside breath test within five or 10 minutes of having had a drink, and over arrangements for moving his car.

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