A driver who was caught so drunk behind the wheel that he was “off the scale” has been banned for three years.

Anubhav Banerjee did not notice police following him while doing 10 on a 30mph road, and was found to be more than five times the legal limit at the roadside.

It was the 44-year-old’s first problem with the law and the senior cyber security man was said to be “desperately ashamed” of his behaviour.

Banerjee, of Lineacre Close, Grange Park, was sentenced at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on November 21 after pleading guilty to drink driving.

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James Burnham, prosecuting, said that on September 13, a Mini Countryman was reported as being driven in “an unusual way”.

The driver “looked lost” as the car crossed the white line, touched the kerb and went straight over roundabouts, the court heard.

A police officer puts his blue lights on while following Banerjee at 10mph, but he “seemed to not notice” so the officer tried the sirens. But he again “failed to react”.(Image: Web)

When he did a roadside breathalyser test on King Henry Drive, Banerjee was “incredibly intoxicated” with 192 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath - the limit is 35 micrograms.

Mr Burnham said: “It is an extremely high reading… My friend indicated it is off the top of the scale of the sentencing guidance.”

The sentencing guidelines for drink driving, which instruct a judge how to sentence a defendant, have a maximum of 150 micrograms.

Gordon Hotson, representing Banerjee, said: “He is a man who can manage very well with astonishingly large quantities of alcohol in his system.”

Banerjee was hospitalised by police because he was so drunk, and when he returned he still had an amount in his system which “would make most people unable to work”.

The court heard from his defence that until this night he was “a man of good character” who “did not realise the extent that he was over the limit”.

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His defence described him as having battled with drinking problems, seeing multiple doctors for help and having not drunk since the night in question.

Banerjee was given a three-year driving ban and a two-year community order, including nine-months of alcohol treatment, 15 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid community work.

He must pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

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