A RESTAURANT worker has been banned from driving after admitting he drank around four pints and four shots of vodka before getting behind the wheel.

Miron Catrinoi Sfarghi, of Leonard Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit after crashing into a rock on his way to see a friend.

The 31-year-old Romanian national had been in his BMW 320 when he crashed on Levisham Lane, near the Rowan West gypsy site in Darlington – formerly known as the Neasham Road Caravan Site.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday that Catrinoi Sfarghi was stopped by Darlington Police officers and arrested on suspicion of driving while over the limit.

Andrew Garside, prosecuting, said: “On Saturday, September 9, in the early hours of morning, the defendant has driven from his place of work in Barnard Castle to see a friend in Darlington.

“He’s collided with a boulder whilst driving his vehicle.

“The police came out and spoke with the defendant.

“He failed the roadside breath test and was arrested and taken to the police station.

“When the defendant was interviewed by the police, he confirmed he’d consumed between three and four beers and also between three and four shots of vodka.”

An interpreter was present in court to lead Catrinoi Sfarghi through proceedings and he represented himself in the dock, however he declined to make any comment in his defence.

However, his interpreter explained that Catrinoi Sfarghi was unsure how he would travel to and from his job in Barnard Castle that sometimes finished at 11pm or midnight, if he was banned from driving.

Addressing the 31-year-old, chairman of the bench, Colling Morris, sitting at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court, said: “We’ve heard what’s been said and we’re going to deal with it in this way.

“You will be disqualified from driving for a period of 14 months. You will have costs of £85 and you will be fined £200, with a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.”

Mr Morris added: “You’re disqualified from today, so don’t be tempted to drive.”

Catrinoi Sfarghi pleaded guilty to the single charge after providing his breath test recorded a level of 51 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, with the legal limit standing at 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.