A scientist who helped design breathalysers has been banned for drink driving.
Dr Richard Lacey, 70, mounted a roundabout in his car after drinking wine and “a couple of pints” with his lunch.
When police were called to the scene they found that the retired scientist was “wobbly” and breathalysed him, Llandrindod Wells magistrates court heard.
Shane Maddocks, prosecuting, said that after police arrived at the roundabout on the A479 near Talgarth in the Brecon Beacons on Nov 23, they found Lacey’s car “damaged, its right wheel was twisted, which had rendered the vehicle immobile”.
Lacey had “definitely been drinking and was wobbly”.
Mr Maddocks added: “The defendant said he had drunk a couple of pints and a bottle of wine. He failed the roadside breath test and was arrested.”
His breath was measured at 41 micrograms – exceeding the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
‘A few pints of beer’
Lacey, who represented himself, said: “I’ve really got nothing to say. I misjudged how much I’d drunk. I had a couple of glasses of wine with lunch and a few pints of beer.
“I’m retired. I designed breathalysers and used to work with the police.”
Breathalysers were developed in the 1970’s to detect whether motorists have consumed too much alcohol to legally be allowed to drive.
They were developed by Lion Laboratories in Barry, South Wales, and have helped convict tens of thousands of drunken drivers.
Breathalysers were developed in the 1970’s at Lion Laboratories in Barry, South Wales – Ronald Henbury
Mr Maddocks said Lacey, who pleaded guilty to a single charge of drink driving, had no previous convictions.
Lacey, of Kington, Herefordshire, was disqualified from driving for 13 months – but can reduce this ban by 13 weeks by completing a drink drive awareness course. He was also fined £600 and told to pay a £240 surcharge and £85 costs.