A CAERSWS gamekeeper was 'surprised' to learn he was over the limit, a court heard before banning him from driving. 

Carwin Hughes, 19, from Trefeglwys, pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit at Telford Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 13 after he was caught in Shrewsbury last month. 

Magistrates heard that on May 25, Hughes, who is employed as a gamekeeper, was in a white Ford Fiesta in Frankwell at around 3.30am, but he was stopped, clearly drunk and was driving with no headlights on. 

The teenager apologised to the court, stating he thought he was under the limit when he blew 51 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – around 1.5 times over the limit.

He said his work depending on being able to drive. 

Magistrates banned him for a minimum 12 months, fined him £369 while he was ordered to pay £135 in costs and a victim surcharge of £152.