A NORTHWICH man has been hit with a two-year driving ban after being caught behind the wheel at almost three times over the limit.

Paul Lodington, of Sandown Crescent, was stopped by police on December 18 last year when driving a blue Nissan Micra on London Road.

The 38-year-old was breathalysed by officers and the reading provided showed he had 103 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - with the legal limit being 35 microgrammes.

Lodington was appearing at Chester Magistrates Court on Monday, February 21, to be sentenced.

He had already pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at the same court on January 11.

District Judge Nicholas Sanders, sitting in the lower court, disqualified Lodington from driving for a period of two years.

He also made Lodington the subject of an alcohol abstinence monitoring programme for 112 days, meaning he cannot drink during that period.

As part of that programme, Lodington will have to wear a tag until June 12.

The two-year driving ban was back-dated to the date he entered his guilty plea.

He must also pay court costs of £85 a surcharge to fund victim services of £95.