A driver who beeped his horn a few too many times in a town centre was confronted by police who said he stunk of booze before he failed a roadside breath test.

Ivo Redev was at the wheel of his silver Range Rover Sport in Maidstone High Street, in January, when officers walked over to have a word with him about his excessive beeping.

However, as they spoke to him they smelt booze and got him to do a breath test which the 35-year-old failed.

Redev, of Stockett Lane, Coxheath, Maidstone, was arrested and later charged with drink driving.

He admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates, in the same town, on Monday (Mar 3).

The court heard he gave a reading of 60 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.

Sidumiso Moyo, prosecuting, added: “He came to the attention of police while in his silver Range Rover as he was beeping his horn excessively.

“They found him and spoke to him and said they could smell intoxicating liquor on him and he said he’d had a couple of drinks before driving.

“He blew 80 microgrammes at the roadside so he was arrested for being over the limit and back at Maidstone police station he went through the (drink driving) procedure and gave two samples and blew 60 microgrammes.”

Redev, who was unrepresented, was asked by magistrates if he had anything to say about his crime.

He added: “I don’t know what to say. Yes, I had a couple of beers. I am a delivery driver, I don’t know what else to say. I don’t normally drink.”

The bench told him he would not be able to drive after the case as they would have to disqualify him and asked him what would happen with his job. He told that he no longer worked as a delivery driver.

Redev was banned from driving for 17 months and fined him £120 for the offence.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £48 and £85 court costs and he will pay what he owes the court at a rate of £20 a month.

If Redev completes a drink-driving course, his ban will be reduced by a quarter.