RETIRED dental surgeon David Lindsey drove while over the legal alcohol limit, Stroud Magistrates’ Court heard.

Lindsey, 59, was caught on Minchinhampton Common after he clipped the wing mirror of a parked car on Thursday, November 20.

A breath test found he had 67 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Linsday, of Old Bristol Road, Nailsworth, pleaded guilty in court on Thursday.

In a letter read out to magistrates, he said he knew drink-driving was wrong but it had been a particularly difficult day and he had underestimated how much he had drunk.

Lindsay said he was not travelling fast and there was no damage to the other car.

The court also heard he needed to drive to care for his sick, elderly father.

He was banned from the roads for 12 months, fined £400 and told to pay £60 costs plus a £15 victim surcharge.