A CAR valeter has been banned from getting behind the wheel after he was caught drink-driving.

Marian Boldea was driving his Renault Laguna near his home in Albany Gardens in Colchester on August 6 when he was stopped.

Boldea, 48, was found to have 89mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The limit is 35.

He admitted the charge at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Crystal Penrose, prosecuting, said: “At about 11pm police attention was drawn to a Renault Laguna swerving in the road, braking suddenly and it had a flat tyre.

“Officers caused the vehicle to stop.” Boldea was the only person in the car.

He carried out a roadside breath test which gave a reading of 89 mcgs.

He then did two more tests at Clacton Police Station which showed the same reading.

He was asked by the bench whether he had anything to say about his actions.

Boldea, who had a translator present in the dock, said: “I’m sorry, I made a mistake.

“I do hope this will never happen again.”

The car valeter said he may have to find another job as a result.

Martin Stuchfield, chairman of the bench, said: “This is a serious offence and it’s a high reading.

“We are disqualifying you from driving for 22 months.

“This means you cannot drive any motor vehicle in a public place from this moment until the end of your disqualification.

“If you drive while disqualified you will commit a serious offence.

“You may be send to prison and disqualified again.”

As he was a first-time offender with regards to drink-driving, the bench offered Boldea the chance to take part in a drink driving rehabilitation course.

If the 16-hour course is completed, it could cut Boldea’s disqualification from driving by 22 weeks.

He had to pay a fine of £210, £30 to fund victim services and £85 to the courts.

His licence was also seized by the court and he will have to apply for a new one once his disqualification is over.