A CARDIGAN drink-driver who drove his car down a steep embankment is lucky police officers checked a damaged tree as it saved his life, magistrates have heard.

Sayed Almaghrabi, of Tyrhos, Tanygroes, has been banned from driving for 42 months after he was convicted after trial of drin- driving in the incident that saw his car crash off the road and down an embankment.

Prosecutor Kevin Challinor said police discovered Almaghrabi lying near the car with serious injuries, including a dislocated hip and a fractured jaw, after they stopped to check damage to a tree after spotting a branch in the A484 at around 2.45am on 19 June.

That led to them checking the steep embankment, a move which Mr Challinor said ensured that Almaghrabi could be taken to hospital.

He said: “Given the location and the time of night it was very fortunate the officers did so.”

Although Almaghrabi smelt strongly of alcohol, he was not in a condition to give a roadside breath test, but was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries and a blood sample was taken.

That sample showed he had 191 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Aberystwyth magistrates heard that Almaghrabi had a previous drink-drive conviction in 2012.

Defence solicitor Colin Taylor said Almaghrabi could not remember what had happened to cause the crash, saying he had taken his car to be repaired by a friend and was planning to have a meal and some drinks and stay at his friend’s house.

Almaghrabi still cannot remember the incident and was still suffering because of the injuries suffered in the crash.

He added: “He must express his thanks to the police officers for their diligence in probably saving his life.”

Almaghrabi, who does youth work and runs art and DJ workshops, had recently been in Greece helping refugees and Mr Taylor said despite the high alcohol reading, he hoped magistrates could show leniency to Almaghrabi because of his community work.

He said: “He puts as much into the community as he gets out of it and deserves an element of leniency.”

Almaghrabi was banned from driving for 42 months and was also made subject to a community order of 12 months with ten days of a rehabilitation activity requirement, 16 sessions of a drink impaired driving course and 70 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £260.