A drink driver whose Vauxhall Zafira was seen by police swerving three or four times on a busy main road near Welshpool has told the court that he is “very sorry” and “it’s not going to happen again in my life”,

A police officer stopped the car along the A483 between Welshpool and Four Crosses shortly before 9pm on Tuesday, November 22, after it was spotted driving onto the white line.

Vasko Dimitrov, 54, admitted at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on December 13 that he had been drink driving after a reading gave 54 milligrams of alcohol in his 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 35mg.

The Bulgarian national who lives in Oswestry is now disqualified from driving for 12 months and has been ordered to pay £589 in court costs and fines for the offence.

Helen Tench, prosecutor, told the court: “The offence took place shortly before nine in the evening on November 22, PC Jones saw the defendant’s vehicle swerving in the carriageway three or four times and drive onto the white line.

"Due to that he stopped the vehicle alcohol was smelt a roadside breath test was given and positive and the defendant was arrested. The reading at the station was 54 in breath the limit being 35. He was not interviewed.”

With help from a Bulgarian interpreter, Dimitrov apologised to the magistrates after pleading guilty to drink driving.

“I’m very sorry it happened,” he said. “It’s the first time it’s happened to me and it’s not going to happen again in my life. Again, I’m very sorry.”

Dimitrov, of Castle Street, Oswestry is banned from driving for 12 months and must pay a £360 fine, which was reduced from £549 because of his early guilty plea; a victim surcharge of £144 and costs of £85.