Drink-driver had children in car

Thomas was told if caught driving there was a "prison sentence waiting"

A 41-year-old man driving with two young children in his car was more than four times the drink-drive limit, a court has heard.

David Paul Thomas, of Trebanos in the Swansea valley, was unsteady on his feet when pulled over by police.

Magistrates in the city heard he was returning from a party on Saturday.

He was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for a year, he must carry out 200 hours unpaid work and was banned from driving for three years.

Thomas was stopped by police as he was driving home from a party in Clydach on Saturday, the court was told.

Two of the passengers in his Ford Focus estate were under the age of 10.

He gave a reading of 159 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Thomas pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

In an interview with the probation service he said he had been drinking on a daily basis for the last four to five years and the problem had become worse.

He said the case was the "wake up call he needed" and was seeking help.

But sentencing him chairman of the bench Robert Collins said the offence was so serious only a custodial sentence could be justified.

He told Thomas he had well exceeded the drink-drive limit and was a "danger to the public and your own family."

Mr Collins told Thomas that if he was caught behind the wheel of a car during the duration of his ban there was "a prison sentence waiting."

Thomas was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.