A 66-year-old Antrim man has been banned from driving for 12 months and fined £375 after being caught over the alcohol limit in Ballymena.

James Balmer, of Bush Park in Antrim town, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and a licence offence during a hearing at Ballymena Magistrates Court.

Police received a report from a member of the public on 29 December stating that a man had been drinking from a can while at the wheel. Officers located the vehicle and Balmer confirmed he had been driving.

A blood test showed he had 119 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, exceeding the legal maximum of 80.

The defence told the court that Balmer had consumed alcohol the night before and believed he was no longer impaired. He was spotted by a passer-by in a car park while running errands.

Balmer had no previous criminal record.