Stunned magistrates told a man caught drink-driving while almost five times the limit that they had never seen such a high reading.

Gareth Evans was pulled over in his Vauxhall Zafira in Lamb’s Walk, Whitstable, after a concerned witness raised the alarm, fearing the 47-year-old was drunk at the wheel.

Police were called to the scene at about 3.30pm on March 24, and Evans failed a roadside breathalyser.

He was arrested and a further test at the police station revealed he had 165 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of his breath – the legal limit is 35.

He was later told by magistrates they had never seen such a high breath-test reading.

Evans, who lived in Whitstable at the time of the offence but has now moved to Bedfordshire, was charged with drink-driving, which he admitted when he appeared at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

James Nichols, prosecuting, said: “It was about 3.30pm on the day in question and police received a report about a possible drink-driver.

“He was stopped and given a test, which was positive. He blew 165, but is of previous good character.”

Magistrates also heard Evans, who works as an education publisher, had been through some events in his life which had taken their toll on him, prompting him to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism.

He had been previously made redundant, gone through a divorce and his young child had gone to live in the Czech Republic with his mother.

The bench was also told Evans did not realise how much he had been drinking on the day of the offence.

He has since disposed of his vehicle and uses public transport to travel to work.

Magistrates jailed Evans for 12 weeks, but suspended the term for a year.

He was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154, plus £85 costs.