A motorist lost control of his car and ploughed it into a wall in view of police while more than three times the legal drink-drive limit.

Aleksandrs Nesterenko was at the wheel of his Volvo in Darnley Road, Gravesend, when officers spotted him driving behind them.

As they continued to drive, they then witnessed him clip a kerb and crash straight into a wall in nearby Rathmore Road.

Officers rushed to his aid to see if he was okay, and after checking got him to do a roadside breath test, as they suspected he’d been drinking, which he failed.

The 59-year-old was arrested and taken to hospital to get checked over.

While there he was given a blood test which proved he was more than three times the legal limit.

Nesterenko, of Parkway, Abbey Wood, near Erith, was charged with driving without due care and attention and drink-driving. He admitted the offences when he appeared in court in June.

His case was adjourned and he returned to Margate Magistrates’ Court on August 30, where he was sentenced.

The court heard when given the blood test he gave a reading of 224 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Prosecutor Julie Farbrace said: “He entered an early guilty plea and I am sure you will afford him credit for that.

“He was banned on June 11, when he was given an interim disqualification.”

Ms Farbrace then went on to tell magistrates the incident happened on December 1, last year.

She added: “It was 11pm and officers were on duty in Rathmore Road, Gravesend when they spotted a Volvo behind them and the driver over-steered and mounted the kerb and collided with a wall.

“He was the driver, there were no passengers in the car.

“The officers assisted him from the vehicle and formed the opinion he had been drinking and he was given a roadside breath test and failed it.

“He was taken to hospital and his blood was taken at 2.25am and he gave a reading of 224 milligrammes, the legal limit is 80.”

“He’s of previous good character, he has no reprimands or cautions and has a full driving licence which has three points on it which he got in for speeding in December 2022.”

Ms Farbrace also told the court the offences were aggravated by the fact Nesterenko crashed his vehicle.

This is the first type of incident in my life

Defending himself, Nesterenko told magistrates he earned between £350 and £370 a week.

A probation officer who had interviewed him suggested a medium to high-level community order would be an appropriate punishment for the offences.

Nesterenko added: “I am guilty, I would like to take the (drink-driving) course to reduce the ban and I agree to do any unpaid work.

“This is the first type of incident in my life.”

Magistrates placed him on a 12-month community order for the drink-driving offence which will see him carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was also banned from driving for 28 months and was offered the drink-driving course and if he completes it, his ban will be reduced by 28 weeks.

Nesterenko was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 as well as £85 court costs, which he will pay the court in full within 28 days.

He received no separate penalty for the driving without due care and attention offence, but his licence was endorsed.