A CHARD man who was more than three and a half times the drink-drive limit when he was stopped by police was also found with a claw hammer in his car.

A member of the public called the police and reported David Hull as they were concerned he was driving while under the influence of alcohol.

When officers pulled the defendant over he said he had been on a “serious bender” and had a weapon with him to use for self-defence.

The 44-year-old of High Street, appeared in the dock before District Judge Angela Brereton, sitting at Yeovil.

He pleaded guilty to driving a Seat Ibiza on High Street, Chard after consuming excess alcohol and being in possession of an offensive weapon on May 10.

The court heard that on the day in question a member of the public reported Hull to the police and said he appeared to be driving while under the influence of alcohol.

“He was stopped by an officer driving along Chard High Street and while talking to them volunteered the comment that he had a weapon in the car,” said prosecutor Emma Lenanton.

“He said he had been on a serious bender the day before and after failing a roadside breath test produced a reading of 126mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol.”

During interview, the defendant said he was carrying the hammer just in case he got into a situation where he felt outnumbered.

He said he would use it to defend himself if he felt in fear of his life.

Neil Priest, defending, said that Hull was extremely honest with the police from the outset regarding the drink driving and weapon offences.

“He told them that he had put the hammer in the back of his car behind the passenger seat because he was working as a delivery driver for a local restaurant,” he said.

“He said he would often have hundreds of pounds worth of cash on him taken from customers and someone had given him the hammer which he chucked in the back of his car.”

Hull had now lost his job as he was unable to drive and also faced losing his accommodation.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 10 Rehabilitation Activity Days and a six-month alcohol treatment programme. He was also banned from driving for 30 months and fined £125 with a £95 victim surcharge.