A NORTHWICH man has been hit with a 20-month road ban and a court bill of more than £1,700 after pleading guilty to drink-driving on the day of his trial.

Samuel Carter, of Lydyett Lane, Barnton, had denied the offence when he appeared at court earlier this year on April 24.

A trial date at Chester Magistrates Court was set for September 6, but the 37-year-old changed his plea when he returned to the dock.

The court heard Carter had been driving a Peugeot in Chester Road, Runcorn, on March 15 this year when he was caught.

A breath test revealed Carter had 83 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his breath, more than twice the limit of 35.

Following his late admission, magistrates disqualified him from driving for 20 months and fined him £934.

The bench also ordered him to pay court costs of £400 and a surcharge of £374, taking his total court bill to £1,708.

Should Carter complete a drink-driving rehabilitation course by October 16, 2025, his ban will be reduced by 20 weeks.