A soldier who drank whiskey before going to fill up with petrol is facing Army disciplinary action after being banned from the roads for three years.

Jesoni Vunibola had a quarter of the small bottle at his home in Bowburn, County Durham before driving to a nearby services to refuel, ready to go to his base in Catterick, North Yorkshire the next morning, a court heard.

He was seen at the roadside after his vehicle broke down in a dangerous position on the A688 at Bowburn, on Saturday November 8.

A police officer who attended was approached by the Vunibola who said his car battery was flat. But magistrates were told she could smell alcohol on the defendant's breath and his speech appeared slurred.

He failed a roadside breathalyser and gave a station reading of 83mg of alcohol in 100ml o

See Full Page