A man seen clipping another car in a Newcastle Emlyn car park was found to be more than four times the drink-drive limit.

Paul Anthony Nixon, of Y Bwthyn, Rhydlewis, admitted drink-driving after police found him in his vehicle at the car park in Castle Street with a breath test showing he had 143 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

He told officers that he had gone to his car to get his glasses before moving it to a free space in a car park instead of a pay and display space.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said police were called by a member of the public who thought Nixon was drunk and had seen him “glance” another car, although no damage was caused.

Officers spoke to Nixon and noticed he smelt of alcohol but, as they could not breath test him at the side of the road as the machine was broken, they arrested him for being unfit to drive.

A breath test was carried out at the police station which showed him to be over the limit.

Defence solicitor Lauren Bayley told magistrates that Nixon was very sorry about the incident and realised how serious it was.

She said Nixon had only driven a very short distance but accepts he shouldn’t have done it.

Nixon had been on a night out with friends and had even arranged to take a taxi home, but had decided to move his car when he went to get his glasses.

Ms Bayley said Nixon, who undertakes voluntary work, had been struggling with alcohol issues and had sought help and hoping to be able to attend a residential course.

Nixon was given an 18-month community order with a requirement to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a nine-month alcohol treatment order and 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also banned from driving for 34 months and will pay costs of £170.