A BANNED driver who was caught almost four times over the limit for alcohol first thing in the morning has had his jail term slashed.

Pawel Laszczych was jailed for six months after he was caught behind the wheel of a people carrier at 7.30am.

A judge said it was with a ‘heavy heart’ that he reduced the jail term to four-and-a-half months, as it was all the law allowed.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, said the 31-year-old was in a Ford Galaxy in Lambrok Road, Trowbridge, on the morning of September 15.

Residents looked out to see him moving the vehicle backwards and forwards, she said, as his passenger was knocking loudly on a door, apparently trying to get drugs.

The police were called and when they arrived Laszczych was asleep in the driver’s seat with the engine running.

He was unable to provide a specimen of breath at the roadside and at the police station he blew 121, the legal limit being 35, but failed to provide the necessary second sample.

Miss Squire said he was banned from the road for five years last June when he was jailed for five weeks after admitting failing to provide a specimen and disqualified driving.

She said Laszczych, of Francis Street, Trowbridge, was also convicted of drink-driving in 2010 and driving while banned in 2013.

Andrew Stone, defending, said his client admitted failing to provide a specimen at the first hearing and quickly changed his plea to guilty on the disqualified driving charge.

He said that as a result he should have been given credit for his pleas which would bring down the total sentence.

Both offences have a maximum sentence of six months and he said as a result the justices had not reflected his admissions in the sentence.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC, sitting with two magistrates, agreed and reduced the jail term from six months to four-and-a-half.

He said “We are going to allow your appeal, although we do it with a heavy heart because we think you are the sort of person who should not be allowed near a car.”

Laszczych remains banned from the road for seven-and-a-half years.