A MOTORIST who drank nine pints and a shot before driving almost 30 miles has been banned from the roads for two years.

Trainee auditor Christopher Jones was nearly three times over the limit when he was caught driving his silver Ford Fiesta after a works Christmas party.

The 24-year-old had started drinking at 1pm on December 23. He eventually got a taxi back to his home in Charminster Road, Bournemouth, but then received a phone call from a friend in Southampton and drove to the city.

He was arrested in Wimpson Lane - some 30 miles away. When tested by police, he had 93 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35mg.

Jones, a former grammar school pupil, works at the Poole offices of prestigious accountancy firm Mazars UK.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard the University of Sussex graduate had been downing pints before making the drive.

A probation officer told the court: “By the evening of his party, he had drunk around eight or nine pints of cider and beer as well as one alcoholic shot.

“While he was at the party he had a conversation that made him very upset and when he left the party he got a taxi home.

“But he got a call from a friend in Southampton and, while he wasn’t thinking rationally and was too upset to think, he got into the car and drove here.”

The officer added: “He appears extremely remorseful for his actions and understands the harm he could have caused to others.”

The court heard that Jones was previously of good character.

The defendant admitted drink driving. He was given a 12-month community order, which includes a requirement to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.

Jones, who was disqualified from driving for 24 months, was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.