by Paul Hooper

A high-flying businessman has been brought down to earth after being caught FIVE times over the legal drink-fly limit.

Arne Wante flew to Lydd Airport to save money on cheaper aviation fuel - but was landed with a £7,000 fine.

The light aircraft pilot - who runs his own exhibition business - was on a jaunt from his home in Belgium.

But after landing at Romney Marsh a sharp-nosed immigration officer thought the 43-year-old executive had been boozing.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that police were called - and discovered Wante had exceeded the limit.

Wante - from Harelbeke - later claimed the night before he flew to England he had a reunion with some old school pals, and didn't get to bed until the early hours of the morning.

But prosecutor Jim Harvey said after landing at Lydd, the pilot and his three pals had gone straight into the bar as the plane was being refuelled.

Judge Michael O'Sullivan told him: "You were drinking the night before - and clearly you must have had a fair bit - but I accept that you may not have fully appreciated how much alcohol was in your system.

"However, you should have known. Alcohol affects judgement. Your actions could have led to a disaster for you and your passengers."

Mr Harvey said Wante and his three friends had flown on an excursion from Belgium to Lydd via Calais.

"He said he only made the trip across the Channel in order the re-fuel as he was under the impression that fuel was cheaper in the UK.

"he is a highly educated, hard working businessman...” – the defence

"He arrived at Lydd on May 19 and went through immigration and was spoken to by an officer.

"She could detect a strong smell of alcohol emanating from him and was concerned he may have been over the limit.

"She had seen the four of them head to the bar where they had ordered drinks."

Mr Harvey said Wante was stopped as he was about to leave and breathalised.

He was then arrested and blood tests later showed he had 112 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - the legal limit for pilots is 20/100.

David Cartwright, defending, said there had been "nothing wrong with his flying" in the trip from Belgium.

"He is a highly educated, hard working businessman. He is chief executive of Travel Expo, a business setting up exhibitions all over Europe.

"He is also a highly talented linguist speaking four languages fluently."

Mr Cartwright said if he was jailed his 20 strong workforce would be out of work.

"Without him the business simply cannot function effectively, " he added.

Wante, who admitted being drunk in charge of a plane, was fined £7000, and ordered to pay £355 costs and surcharge.

The court heard that whether Wante retains his pilot's licence was a decision for the Belgium aviation authorities.