THE long serving Teignmouth Town Council clerk has been hit with a 20 months driving ban and a £550 fine after admitting a drink drive charge.

David Raymond Tickell, of The Rowdens, Teignmouth, was also ordered to pay a £150 court charge, £85 costs and a £55 victim surcharge by South and West Devon Magistrates in Torquay on Thursday, May 14.

The 75-year-old, who was not represented, admitted driving with excess alcohol in his MG 6 in Dawlish Road, Teignmouth, on April 28. The reading showed 76 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Debbie Hodges, prosecuting, said that just before 11pm the attention of police officers was drawn to the way the vehicle was being driven close to the near-side kerb in Station Road, Teignmouth.

The car was stopped and an officer noticed alcohol on Tickell's breath and he gave a positive breath test.

In a statement, read out by the court clerk, Tickell said he was extremely sorry that due to his serious misjudgement he had brought shame and disgrace on his family.

He added that for the past four years he had been subject to family and work pressures and the offence had taken place after the last meeting of the four years' electoral cycle before the elections in May.

His statement went on that he remembered saying he was glad it was over and it was a weight off his shoulders, but now he had clearly made it worse for himself.

For the past 52 years he had a completely clean driving licence and had been involved in community affairs for 32 years, the last 18 years as a local government officer.

He had also planned a CCTV project for prevention of and protection from crime in Teignmouth.

'I cannot underestimate the regret and remorse I feel for my team. I intend getting a part-time role with the CCTV for which I need to drive a vehicle,' his statement continued.

Tickell told the bench that he felt deeply about his stupidity that day.

'Having had this traumatic experience I will never offend again,' said Tickell, who accepted an offer to undertake a driver rehabilitation course, which, if completed successfully, reduces the length of disqualification.