Philip Hall, 51, of Haslam Crescent, Pebsham, Bexhill, got pulled over by police in Ninfield Road at around 8am on June 22.

Prosecutor Alison May said officers could smell alcohol on Hall's breath before he told police he had last drunk at 3am.

A breath test revealed Hall had 53 mcg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Hall, who has no previous convictions, appeared before deputy district judge Adrian Turner at Hastings Magistrates Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to one charge of drink driving.

Rosalind Crook, defending, said: "He was driving his car early in the morning after having a row with his wife the evening before.

"After that he started drinking and stayed with his parents and was driving back home.

"He was fully co-operative with police.

"The defendant worked for 25 years in the City and then owned his own business which he sold last month."

Mr Turner banned Hall from driving for 16 months, fined him £450 and ordered £60 costs.