A PUB worker was banned from driving after flipping his car onto its roof on his way home.

Joseph Pantling, aged 24, of Gardens Walk, in Upton, near Worcester, pleaded guilty to driving over the limit on the B4029, in Hanley Swan, on November 11.

David Devine, prosecuting, said a resident saw the aftermath of the crash after hearing a bang outside his home.

He added: “He goes to investigate and is met with the sight of a Volkswagen Polo on its roof.

“He [Pantling] is still in the vehicle. The police were called.”

Mr Devine said the defendant told police he consumed a few drinks at work and then decided to make the three-mile trip back home.

He hit a verge on the way back and lost control, the court heard.

The prosecutor added that Pantling, who has no previous convictions or cautions, apologised for his actions.

Judith Kenney, defending, said the defendant was employed as a tree surgeon during the week and worked in a pub at weekends.

She added: “Kind customers say ‘have one [drink] for me’. He will have one or two drinks in the course of an evening.

“It’s usually not a problem as a member of the team will take him home.

“On this occasion she had gone. He tried to get a taxi first but he wasn’t able to do that, there was no response.

“He took a risk. He has - in his own words - let himself down. I don’t think this is a boy you are ever going to see again in these courts.”

She added that Pantling was living in his own flat and working two jobs to help cover his costs.

Police found he had 92 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

A probation worker said the defendant realised that he could have caused serious harm to others, potentially even killing someone, as a result of his actions.

Three testimonial letters, vouching for Pantling’s good character, were handed to the magistrates on November 29.

Worcester Magistrates Court banned him from driving for 23 months and told him to do 40 hours of unpaid work and pay costs and a victim surcharge.