A FATHER who had been to see his professional footballer son at a League Two match was found to be more than twice the drink-drive limit.

Craig Crawford, 44, of Coldstream Drive, Little Sutton, Ellesmere Port, was driving his silver Ford on the A51 near Chester on December 15 when stopped by police, Chester Magistrates Court heard on Friday, January 4.

District Judge Nicholas Sanders banned him from driving for 20 months.

Prosecuting, Eve Johnson said a member of the public reported seeing the vehicle racing an ambulance and was weaving in and out of the lane.

When police stopped him, he smelt of intoxicants and failed a breath test.

Crawford gave a reading of 76 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, more than twice the legal limit of 35.

Representing himself, Crawford said he could not remember racing an ambulance.

He said it was a "massive misjudgment". He had been to see his son play for Notts County but he had had nothing to eat all day.

He worked for Cheshire West at Highfield Primary School as a minibus driver, had two children with a daughter who lived with him a couple of nights a week, and a driving ban would cost him.

He added: "This will never happen again - it's a bit shameful really."

Judge Sanders said he would give Crawford full credit for his guilty plea and handed him a 20-month driving ban, plus a £350 fine, £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

The length of the ban would be reduced by a quarter if Crawford completed a drink-drive rehabilitation course.