TYWYN supermarket staff have been praised by a magistrate for reporting a drunken customer when they saw him getting into his car and drive away.

Dolgellau court chairman said that the court expressed gratitude to the staff for doing the right thing and reporting a drink-driver to the police.

Diane Williams, prosecuting, said that the police were told that David Keith Greenaway, 49, of 10 Red Lion Street, Tywyn, was drunk and was seen getting into his silver VW Beetle on 5 November and driving out of the supermarket car park.

Police traced the vehicle to the defendant’s home and Greenaway admitted that he had driven from the supermarket.

The defendant told the police that he had not had a drink since arriving home, but later changed his mind after a breath test proved positive.

A reading showed that Greenway had 50 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

The crown prosector said that, even if the defendant had drunk a can of beer after arriving home, a back count by forensic experts revealed that the reading would be between 37 and 40 micrograms and still over the drink-drive limit.

Hywel Davies told the court that his client lived alone and had mental health problems. He said that his client liked to pop into the local pub for a drink and a chat.

On that day, he did not think he was above the drink-drive limit.

Greenaway was fined £120 with £85 prosecution costs and £20 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 14 months.