A HAYLE motorist who on an earlier occasion when he was in trouble with the police had said he usually drank 15 to 20 pints of an evening was caught as a drink driver after drinking "a few beers" and a double shot of rum.

Ryan Lee Conacher, 19, of Little Lane, Hayle, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates' Court to drink driving at Hayle on January 1. He also admitted breaching a conditional discharge.

Alison May, prosecuting, said he had made an admission about his heavy drinking in February last year when he was convicted of causing criminal damage. On New Year's Day this year he had driven his vehicle into a parked car, calling at the owner's house afterwards to admit what he had done. Police were called and officers smelt liquor on his breath, later testing him when he registered 50mcg, 15 points over the limit.

He told officers he had hit the car after going over a speed bump which had knocked the car wheel out of line and caused him to have the collision.

Unemployed Conacher was banned from driving for a year and fined £100 and £15 victim surcharge. He told the magistrates he did not drink anywhere near that amount any more.