A MOTORIST who downed more than a dozen drinks has been banned from the road for four years and narrowly escaped jail.

After Lance Joseph Hook drank six pints of lager, some spirits and six cans of cider, he gave a breath test reading of 158 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - four-and-half times the legal limit.

Magistrate Philip Blatchly said it was the highest reading he had ever seen.

Prosecutor Louise Pinder told Stroud magistrates court a member of the public rang police when they saw Hook's van on the wrong side of the road in Canberra, Stonehouse on July 3.

"He was seen parking it, having a cigarette and swaying around," she told the bench on Wednesday, July 28.

She said the lowest reading of a later breath test at Stroud police station was 158ng of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35mg.

Defending solicitor Steven John said his client had recently lost his mother, though that did not excuse his behaviour.

"Obviously it is a high reading," he said.

"He lost his mother in April and it put a strain on his relationship with his father."

He said the night before he was caught, Hook consumed six pints of lager and some spirits.

He woke the next day and after an argument with his father, went to see his mother's grave and then drank six cans of cider before getting behind the wheel.

He said his client suffered panic and anxiety attacks and the incident had meant he lost his job working with an electricity company.

He said Hook, who is now living in a caravan in is cousin's garden in Cotteswold Road, Robinswood, Gloucester, was highly thought of by his employer and a job would be held open for him.

Mr Blatchly handed down a four year driving ban, an 18 month community order with supervision, a Saturday night curfew for three months, and £85 costs.

"In my years as a magistrate I have not dealt with a reading this high," said Mr Blatchly. "You are a lucky man not to be going to prison today, I can assure you."