A DRINK driver who was more than three-and-a-half times over the legal limit continued swigging from a bottle of cider in front of police officers after being pulled over, a court heard.

Martyn Stewart Hannaford, of Weymouth, had been drinking a 2.5-litre bottle of Omega Cider when he got behind the wheel of a silver BMW on New Year's Day.

Prosecutor Andrew Newman told Weymouth Magistrates Court that the 41-year-old was stopped by police in Hawkesworth Close and continued to drink the cider in front of the officers while still behind the wheel of the car.

Weymouth Magistrates Court heard Hannaford was more than three-and-a-half times over the legal limit with an alcohol level of 125 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcg.

Mr Newman said: "The defendant was removed from the car and he was very unstable on his feet and as a result was arrested."

Mr Newman said that the defendant's licence had been revoked prior to the incident, in February 2020.

Hannaford, of Rodwell Road, Weymouth, admitted charges of driving while over the alcohol limit, driving with a revoked licence and driving without insurance.

He also pleaded guilty to an offence of stalking, which happened after the drink driving incident on January 8.

Hannaford was given an interim disqualification from driving of six months and granted unconditional bail.

The case has been adjourned for sentencing at Weymouth Magistrates Court on February 25.

Dorset Police runs an annual crackdown on drug and drink drivers, which see officers carrying out roadside breathalyser tests on anyone committing a road traffic offence - regardless of whether drivers appear to be under the influence.

The latest campaign ran until January 1 - the day Hannaford was pulled over.

Inspector Joe Pardey, of the Dorset roads policing team, said alcohol weakens many of the functions necessary for safe driving, with reaction times and spatial awareness are affected significantly.

He said: "This may still be the case the morning after, depending on how much alcohol is consumed the night before and when you stopped drinking.

“If police think you are unfit to drive through consumption of alcohol, even if your breath test registers lower than the prescribed limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath you can still be arrested and may be charged with an offence.

"You do not have to be drunk to be a drink driver. Don’t risk it."