A drunk driver was found by cops at the wheel of a van just yards away from a court.
Gavin Kevin Sean Hilliard, 41, was banned from driving for 12 months last March but was found by police in the Asda car park in Llandudno near the magistrates’ court.
He was caught on Wednesday morning and tests showed he was more than two and a half times the drink drive limit.
Hilliard of Maes y Cwm, Llandudno admitted charges of drink driving and driving while disqualified when he appeared from custody before a judge at Caernarfon Magistrates Court today.
District Judge Gwyn Jones told him: “You can see the court at Llandudno from the Asda car park and knew perfectly well you were not meant to be behind the wheel.”
The court heard Hilliard had previous convictions for drink driving and had been found driving while disqualified on 11 occasions in the past.
Judge Jones said Hilliard’s behaviour was a “flagrant, complete disregard of a court order”.
“Only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate,” he added.
Hilliard was jailed for 20 weeks and banned from driving for 42 months.
No costs were awarded but Hilliard must pay a £115 victim surcharge upon release from prison.
Diane Williams, prosecuting, said a police support officer saw the white van in the car park at about 1am on Wednesday morning.
It had three men inside and she found the defendant in the driver’s seat and asked him to switch off the ignition and waited for officers to attend.
“A roadside breath test proved positive and he was arrested and taken to the police station,” said Ms Williams.
Further tests showed Hilliard had 93 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Ms Williams said Hilliard appeared before magistrates at Llandudno in March and had been banned from driving for 12 months.
Glyn Roberts, defending, said the men were just “larking about” and he had not driven the van to the car park nor did he plan to drive the vehicle away.
He accepted Hilliard’s previous record meant the offence crossed the custody threshold but argued any prison term could be suspended with other means of punishment imposed.
“He is throwing himself on the mercy of the court,” the lawyer added.
After the hearing Insp Julie Sheard of North Wales Police said: “Drink driving is a serious offence which puts the driver and other people at serious risk and is totally unacceptable.
“Those who repeatedly flout the law can expect to spend time behind bars.”
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