A wealth management advisor who drove a Mercedes up Hitchin’s Sun Street while more than three times the drink-drive limit has been banned and must pay almost £2,500.

Stevenage magistrates heard on Wednesday that Sarbjit Satpal Chahal had 126 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath while at the wheel in Sun Street on December 18 last year. The limit is 35 microgrammes.

The 35-year-old, of Waterlow Mews in Little Wymondley, pleaded guilty – and chairman of the bench Douglas Steele banned him from driving for 30 months.

Mr Steele also ordered Chahal to pay £2,277 in fines, £85 in costs and a £120 victim surcharge – a total of £2,482.

The defendant’s driving ban may be reduced by 30 weeks if he completes a course approved by the Secretary of State within 21 months.