Police stopped a motorist driving towards Burrington when his car came up as uninsured on the automated number plate recognition system.

When they spoke to Tadeusz Przybylski they smelled alcohol on his breath and ordered him to take a roadside breath test, which he failed.

Przybylski, 56, of High Street, Shepton Mallet, admitted to Frome magistrates last week that he had been driving his Nissan Primera over the limit and without insurance.

A Polish interpreter was brought to court to help translate.

Crown prosecutor Lesley Ness said Przybylski had been taken to Bath police station on the afternoon of June 7 where a further breath test gave a reading of 63mcg to 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcg.

Defence solicitor Gwen Browne said her client was convinced he had only had one beer that day, but it was a high-alcohol variety.

Ms Browne said Przybylski was a hard worker, and was employed packing cartons, bottles and drinks, for which he earned a weekly wage of £180. His weekly outgoings totalled £165, and what little money he could save he sent back to his family in Poland, where he had an adult son and daughter, and four grandchildren.

Ms Browne said her client had received a letter about his car insurance, but his lack of English meant he had not responded as he should have done to ensure his car had insurance cover.

Przybylski was banned from driving for 18 months, and fined £180.

He agreed to attend a drink-driver rehabilitation course, which would reduce his ban by four-and-a-half months.

He was fined £180 for driving uninsured and his licence was endorsed. There was £60 to pay towards court costs, and a £15 victim surcharge, giving a total of £435.