A fraud investigator with the NatWest bank was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit when he was pulled over by police.

Edward Gordon, 24, of The Spires, Strood, smelled strongly of alcohol when he got out of his Peugeot 307, in a car park in Chatham.

He gave a breath reading of 91 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Gordon admitted drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Medway.

Laky Matin prosecuting, told Medway magistrates: “A routine patrol car with two officers inside spotted the car driving along Dock Road, at excessive speed. They followed and the defendant parked in the car park in Whiffens Avenue. The officers said his speech was slurred, his eyes were glazed and he was unsteady on his feet.”

Gordon said: “I am very sorry for what I have done. I’ve let myself and my family down. I made a stupid mistake.”

Magistrates banned him from driving for 23 months and he must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work plus £85 costs.