AN ex-serviceman struggling to adjust to life outside of the forces has found himself banned from driving after he was caught over the drink drive limit for a second time.

Samuel Rowe of Coleshill pleaded guilty to one charge of driving while above the drink drive limit dating from April 2 in Highworth when he came before magistrates siting in Swindon.

Pauline Lambert, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, told the magistrates that police had received a tip-off of a man who might be over the drink drive limit. Officers on patrol spotted a Vauxhall Combo van that fitted the description of the vehicle in question turning into Edencroft where it stopped.

The officers arrested 38-year-old Rowe on suspicion of drink driving and took him back to Gablecross Police Station. There he completed a breath test, providing a lowest reading of 59 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath.

The court heard that Rowe had a relevant conviction dating from 2014 when he was banned from driving for 18 months for a similar charge by magistrates in Somerset.

Defending Rowe, Harriet Heard told the magistrates on Wednesday that he had served a number of years in the military as a mercenary and was currently awaiting the green light to rejoin.

“He has been offered a position and just needs to pass his medical and physical,” she said. “He is pretty anxious to get back into work – he has always known that life and finds it difficult to cope when he is not in the military lifestyle. He says he probably drinks more when he is not full time in the army.

“He has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder because of some posts out in the Middle East, but he doesn’t say that as a reason for this incident.”

She added on the day in question he had gone to the pub and had a glass of wine and some cider but didn't realise he was over the limit.

“There were no signs that he was driving in any sense that was untoward,” she said. “This disqualification means he will lose his job as a ground worker which means he won’t have any income until he gets back into the army. He is hoping to get back in at the end of May so he is unlikely to be in employment until then, so he will take a hit financially.”

Sentencing him, chairman of the bench Val Street disqualified him from driving for three years. She also ordered he pay a fine of £110 as well as Crown Prosecution Service costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.