A Brislington man who was just one month away from getting his driving licence back has been disqualified from driving for three years.

Leon Clemmings, 26, of Belmont Road, would have got his driving licence back on Monday, November 16, after being banned from driving in July 2008.

But at Bristol Magistrates' Court, he was given a mandatory three-year driving ban when he was caught driving over the drink-drive limit on Sunday, August 9.

Clemmings, who is single, but has two children with an ex-partner, was driving a Volkswagen Golf in Colston Avenue at about 1am with three male friends in the car when he was stopped by police.

Officers saw the car nearly stall and run an amber light, and checks later found that the vehicle was registered to a female driver, who was also the only person listed on the insurance policy.

When stopped, an officer smelt alcohol on Clemmings' breath and his eyes were glazed.

He was arrested and when searched, two bags of "green vegetable matter", later found to be 1.9g of cannabis, were discovered.

At the police station, a blood test found he had 87ml of alcohol in 100ml of blood, over the limit of 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

He pleaded guilty to driving while over the drink-drive limit, and driving while disqualified and without insurance. He also admitted having in his possession 1.9g of cannabis, a class B drug, which he said he had bought that night in Easton for his own personal use.

Magistrate Colin Howells said that Clemmings, who is on job-seekers' allowance, faced a three-year mandatory driving ban.

Sentencing was put back for probation reports, but Mr Howells said he was considering custody.