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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Rugby star's drink-driving ban | Rugby star's drink-driving ban |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Former Wales rugby captain Colin Charvis has been banned from driving for two years after admitting driving while twice the legal alcohol limit. | Former Wales rugby captain Colin Charvis has been banned from driving for two years after admitting driving while twice the legal alcohol limit. |
| Cardiff magistrates heard the former British Lion, 36, had drunk eight pints before staying at a friend's but left in his Range Rover early next morning. | Cardiff magistrates heard the former British Lion, 36, had drunk eight pints before staying at a friend's but left in his Range Rover early next morning. |
| He was arrested on Sunday 4 October at 0545 BST after police spotted his vehicle swerving on a road in Cardiff. | He was arrested on Sunday 4 October at 0545 BST after police spotted his vehicle swerving on a road in Cardiff. |
| Charvis, who once headed a police anti-drink campaign, was also fined £900. | Charvis, who once headed a police anti-drink campaign, was also fined £900. |
| The ban will be reduced to 18 months if he takes a rehabilitation course. | The ban will be reduced to 18 months if he takes a rehabilitation course. |
| The court heard a breath test showed Charvis, of Swansea, had 87 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. | The court heard a breath test showed Charvis, of Swansea, had 87 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. |
| David Cooke, prosecuting, said: "Police spotted a Range Rover swerving across the carriageway in front of them. | David Cooke, prosecuting, said: "Police spotted a Range Rover swerving across the carriageway in front of them. |
| "They spoke to Mr Charvis and could smell intoxicants on his breath. He confirmed he had been drinking, saying his last drink was around midnight. | "They spoke to Mr Charvis and could smell intoxicants on his breath. He confirmed he had been drinking, saying his last drink was around midnight. |
| 'Embarrassment' | 'Embarrassment' |
| "He said he had drunk probably eight pints." | "He said he had drunk probably eight pints." |
| His solicitor told the court the publicity surrounding the case had caused his client "personal and professional embarrassment". | His solicitor told the court the publicity surrounding the case had caused his client "personal and professional embarrassment". |
| Andrew Jones, defending, said the offence was caused by an "error of judgement" rather than blatant disregard for the law. | Andrew Jones, defending, said the offence was caused by an "error of judgement" rather than blatant disregard for the law. |
| Mr Jones said Charvis had gone back to a friend's house in Cardiff Bay following their evening out and spent the night there because "he was not in a fit state to drive" home to Swansea. | Mr Jones said Charvis had gone back to a friend's house in Cardiff Bay following their evening out and spent the night there because "he was not in a fit state to drive" home to Swansea. |
| He said: "When he woke the following morning, he no longer felt intoxicated and decided to go home that morning." | He said: "When he woke the following morning, he no longer felt intoxicated and decided to go home that morning." |
| He added that Charvis "may have changed lanes while turning the radio on". | He added that Charvis "may have changed lanes while turning the radio on". |
| District Judge Gerwyn Watkins said he had reduced Charvis's sentence as he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. | |
| But he said it had to reflect the level of alcohol in his system, his poor standard of driving and a previous conviction - for drink-driving in 1998. | |
| Charvis, captain of Wales 22 times between 2002 and 2004, is now defence coach at Newport Gwent Dragons. | Charvis, captain of Wales 22 times between 2002 and 2004, is now defence coach at Newport Gwent Dragons. |
| As a player, his 22 tries made him the leading try scorer in international rugby as a forward. | As a player, his 22 tries made him the leading try scorer in international rugby as a forward. |
| He has previously spearheaded an anti-drink-driving campaign, appearing in an awareness video called "The Mourning After". | He has previously spearheaded an anti-drink-driving campaign, appearing in an awareness video called "The Mourning After". |