A MAN from Huyton who delayed going into work as he believed he may still be over the limit was stopped for drink-driving in Ellesmere Port.

Mark Nightingale, 58, of Archway Road, planned to start work at 10am instead of 8am as he had been out drinking the day before.

But police stopped him in his silver Volvo on the A5117 at 9.40am on February 25 and could smell intoxicants on his breath.

Appearing at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, March 15, Nightingale pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Prosecuting, Alan Currums said Nightingale co-operated fully with the police and gave a breath sample reading of 51 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, compared to the legal limit of 35.

He had no previous convictions and had entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.

Nightingale, defending himself, said: "I was just stupid; I had been out drinking the previous day and realised there was a possibility [I could be over the limit]."

He added he chose to go to work at 10am instead of 8am to minimise the risk.

Magistrates fined him £480 plus £85 court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

He was banned from driving for 16 months, but if he completed a drink-drive rehabilitation course, that ban would be reduced by 16 weeks.