A DRIVER has been banned after admitting being almost one and a half times over the legal alcohol limit.

Herton Rodrigo Guermandi Penha, 36, of Howty Close, Wilmslow, pleaded guilty at Stockport Magistrates Court to having 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

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The defendant failed a breath test on October 30 last year when he was driving a Ford Focus on Dean Row Road.

Stockport magistrates banned him from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months.

This obligatory disqualification can be reduced by three months if the defendant satisfactorily completes a course, costing up to £250, approved by the Secretary of State.

Penha was also fined £392, ordered to pay £85 costs and £39 victim surcharge and his driving licence was endorsed.

Magistrates took his guilty plea into consideration when imposing the sentence.

The defendant had to pay the £516 court bill by December 27.