A VILLAGER who was ‘in charge’ of a car when over the drink drive limit has been fined.

Phillip Norman, 38, was stopped by police officers on September 10 when with a 10-reg Audi on Stockbridge Road in Winchester, a court heard.

His alcohol reading was 100 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 35, meaning he was more than twice the legal limit.

He pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle when over the limit.

Norman, of Northington Hill, Northington, near Alresford, denied a charge of driving with excess alcohol in the same incident and that charge was withdrawn by the prosecution at Basingstoke Magistrates Court.

The magistrates fined Norman £530 with £85 costs and a £53 victim surcharge.