A MOTORIST has been banned from the road for a year after he was found guilty of driving drunk without a licence near Swanmore.

James Paul Bancroft, 46, of Landguard Road, Southampton, drove a VW Golf on the A32 Wickham Road without third-party insurance while his alcohol level was above the legal limit on June 6, 2018, a court heard.

Bancroft completed a breath test, returning a result of 44 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Appearing at Southampton Magistrates' Court on July 24, 2018, Bancroft pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and not guilty to drunk driving - he would later be found guilty on September 24.

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Bancroft failed to surrender to custody at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court, pleading guilty to the offence on November 7 this year.

Magistrates have banned him from driving for 12 months. This disqualification can be reduced by three months if he completes a course by June 6 2025.

He has also been fined £550, and must also pay a £180 victim surcharge and £300 costs.

The total amount of £1,030 must be paid in full by December 5.