A MAN who had stepped in to help a friend by being a mobile DJ for the night at a Chester hotel was stopped by police on his way home for drink-driving.

Duncan Laing, 46, of Totridge Close, Offerton, Stockport, was stopped after police spotted him going at 70mph in a 50mph limit in his Ford on the A5117 in Ellesmere Port on December 16, Chester Magistrates Court heard on Friday, January 4.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was handed an 18-month driving ban.

Prosecuting, Eve Johnson said the defendant told police he had had a couple of shandies that night but failed a breath test.

He gave a reading of 67 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - nearly twice the legal limit of 35.

He had no convictions in the last 23 years.

Defending, James Bagby said Laing accepted he would be banned and the incident began by helping a friend, who was a mobile DJ due to be at the Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel.

Laing was asked to cover for him and did so, and would not have been on the road otherwise.

He was remorseful for what he had done.

As well as the driving ban, Laing was fined £150 plus £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

A drink-drive rehabilitation course was offered to him which, if successfully completed, would reduce the 18-month ban by a quarter.