Assistant manager of Chirk's Poacher's Pocket pub in court

Lee Wright, of Montgomery Road, was produced in custody at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old admitted numerous offences, all of which occurred on Sunday, February 8, in Chirk. They include:

• Drink-driving
• Driving without insurance
• Driving without due care and attention
• Driving whilst disqualified
• Failing to stop after an accident
• Failing to report that accident

Prosecutor Rachael Drew told the court that the incidents began at the Poacher's Pocket in Chirk, where a member of the public informed staff their car had been damaged in the car park.

The defendant had reversed into that person's car and failed to stop or report it afterwards, Ms Drew said.

Later on that day, police were called to a crash in Chirk.

When they arrived at the scene, they found the defendant's vehicle - and the defendant himself "walking away."

He was detained and gave a positive roadside breath alcohol reading, and was arrested.

In custody, he gave a sample which revealed he had 116 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35.

Ms Drew told the court Wright had "significant previous convictions" on his record.

Euros Jones, defending, told the court: "I concede this certainly crosses the custody threshold; Mr Wright is devastated to be in this position.

"After the last custodial sentence he turned his life around completely.

"He is an assistant manager at the Poacher's Pocket.

"Being an incident that's very much alcohol-orientated, that's very much crept back into his life.

"He'd finished his shift, had a pint with the other assistant manager and decided to drive home."

Mr Jones asked the court to consider probation intervention, adding: "An alcohol tag would be a great assistance to him."

The court agreed, and after the defendant had been interviewed by probation officers, Mr Jones added: "It's nice to see Mr Wright has opened up and accepted there's a problem there.

"His family is in agreement; he needs to address this."

District Judge Gwyn Jones told the defendant: "A number of offences occurred as of February 8. You were behind the wheel and were involved in a collision.

"You were banned at the time and under the influence of alcohol.

"I have regard to the fact you had the good sense to discuss the matter with Mr Jones today; the issue of alcohol misuse cannot continue.

"I accept you're working in the hospitality industry, but it cannot be good to be dependent on alcohol."

The Judge handed down an overall sentence of 20 weeks but suspended it for 18 months with 15 days of rehabilitation activity and a six-month alcohol treatment requirement.

Wright received a 48-month driving ban, with an additional extension of 17 months to reflect the remaining period of his current ban.

He must also pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.