A CHARD man who was caught driving his car out of a Yeovil car park while more than double the drink drive limit claimed he had been making a quick getaway from a group of angry males.

The police were alerted by a CCTV operator monitoring the town centre who saw Samuel Fowler heading towards a car when he appeared to be drunk.

When officers caught him just about to leave the exit of the Yeo Leisure Park they breathalysed him at the roadside and he gave a positive result.

Fowler, 22, of Crossways, South Chard, pleaded guilty to driving an Audi A3 in the car park of Yeo Leisure Park on December 30 after consuming excess alcohol when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

Emma Lenanton, prosecuting, said the defendant was spotted by a CCTV operator walking through Yeovil town centre at 4am.

“He appeared to be drunk and was heading towards the car park of Yeo Leisure Park and then got into a vehicle,” she said.

“The police attended and found Fowler driving and just about to pull out of the car park.

“They stopped the vehicle and he was unsteady on his feet and smelt strongly of alcohol and then failed a roadside breath test.”

At the police station a further test produced a reading of 76mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol.

Defending solicitor Neil Priest said that Fowler was of previous good character and said he had been out with colleagues in Yeovil when they were suddenly approached by a group of males who were being aggressive to them.

“He drove the car to avoid any confrontations, and only drove it for about 10 metres before the police intervened, however he said he was intending to drive home,” he said.

The magistrates banned the defendant from driving for 20 months and fined him £260 with £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.