A DRINK-DRIVER was found to be double the legal alcohol limit four hours after crashing his car.

Peter Small was stopped by police after driving a Ford Focus straight into a barrier in Mill Road in Brighton last month.

After reversing, the 63-year-old then hit a BMW car, causing it to set off the airbags in his own car and damaging the front of the other vehicle.

He told magistrates his driving was “inexcusable” after admitting the offence at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

Martina Sherlock, prosecuting, said Small had identified himself as the driver and told them he had been drinking.

They noticed his speech was slurred and his movements were slow.

Police at first took him to hospital, and later he gave a breath test of 72 microgrammes (mcg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath.

The legal limit is 35mcg per 100ml.

Small, of Park Road in Shoreham, was fined £553 and banned from driving for 18 months.

He must also pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £55.

He chose to enrol on a drink-driving awareness course to reduce the length of his ban.