Nine-times drink driver avoids jail

A driver escaped a jail sentence today - for his ninth drink driving conviction.

Keith Cullen, 29, had already been caught six times driving while over the limit. On two other occasions he refused to give police a specimen for testing.

Cullen, a scrap-metal worker, had also been found driving while disqualified 12 times. In the latest incident he was three times over the drink-drive limit.

Swansea magistrates heard how Cullen explained to police he had fallen asleep in

the driver's

seat after drinking eight cans of beer. He said a friend had climbed onto his lap and driven the car. Cullen then woke up.

Considering himself to be less drunk than his friend, he took over the wheel.

Hayley Fackrell, prosecuting, said Cullen was stopped by police at 3am on 20 October. He admitted drink driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Cullen was made the subject of a one-year community rehabilitation order and told to attend a drink-impaired drivers' programme.

He was also banned for a further three years.