Over-the-limit motorist had gone to retrieve his 'lost pair of glasses' but crashed into a vehicle
An over-the-limit motorist who said he had driven to retrieve his lost glasses crashed into a parked vehicle.
Petru Papuc (57), of Devenagh Way in Ballymena, admitted driving with excess alcohol in breath and failing to remain at the scene of a collision on August 31 this year.
He had the assistance of an interpreter at Ballymena Magistrates Court.
Police had gone to the defendant's address and he had an alcohol in breath reading of 88 - the legal limit is 35.
A defence solicitor said the defendant wants to apologise. He said the defendant had left the scene after the situation had become "heated".
The solicitor said the defendant had been drinking at a function the night before and had returned home and had slept.
"He had lost his glasses and then went to retrieve them. That is why he had got into the car".
The defendant had taken alcohol when he returned home following the collision but accepted he was over the limit when behind the wheel.
The defendant had a previous related conviction from 2020 and has now been banned from driving for three years and has been fined £400.