A GRANDFATHER caught drunk behind the wheel gave a fake name to police to try and hide that he was driving whilst disqualified for a sixteenth time.

Police received a report from a member of the public that the driver of a white van appeared to be under the influence in Aberaeron, before receiving another report of an alleged domestic incident between a man and a woman who drove away in a white van, prosecutor Ms Parry told the court.

Officers stopped the van on the A487, and the driver was slurring his words. He gave his name as ‘Gavin Stewart’ and blew over the limit when breathalysed.

The driver was taken to Aberystwyth Police Station, where he admitted he was actually Colin Stewart and he was disqualified from driving after receiving a three-year ban in 2022.

When breathalysed at the police station, Stewart recorded having 52 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He pleaded guilty to the driving offences at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. The reported domestic assault was later discontinued, Ms Parry said.

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Stewart, 48, had 32 previous convictions for 86 offences, including 15 previous offences for driving whilst disqualified, one for drink-driving and three for failing to provide a breath sample.

The court heard that Stewart, of Nursery Street in Salford, was on bail not to contact his partner at the time of the offence, however she had been in the van with him.

Alycia Carpanini, in mitigation, said the defendant and his partner had come to Aberaeron in order to work on their relationship.

“It was his partner who drove down. That’s why he had a drink that day,” she said. “The defendant, thinking it was the right thing to do, was to drive the van home from the pub to the campsite.”

Ms Carpanini said there had been “some sort of an argument” between the defendant and his partner on that date.

“He wants to convey how sorry he is to the court,” she said. “He is remorseful.

“It’s realistic that custody is the only option. The defendant does have a terrible driving record.”

Addressing Stewart, Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “Last month, you drove a van when you were disqualified and what’s more, you were over the drink-drive limit.

“When police stopped you, you initially gave a false name.

“This is the sixteenth time that you have driven whilst you were disqualified. Whatever the courts do to you, you seem determined to drive whilst disqualified.

“You keep on doing this and the sentences will keep on getting longer and longer.”

Stewart was sentenced to a total of 12 weeks for driving whilst disqualified, drink-driving, and driving without insurance.

The defendant was further banned from driving for four years.