A CHARD man alleged to have been more than three times the drink drive limit after being found at the wheel of a car failed to appear in court as he had been admitted to hospital.

Daniel Alexandre Guerreiro, 36, of Holyrood Street, was due to appear before Somerset Magistrates after being arrested by police on July 10.

He was alleged to have driven a black Toyota Celica on Church Street in Chard on July 10 after consuming excess alcohol.

The charge detailed that a breath test produced a reading of 108mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mcg of alcohol.

He was also charged with using the vehicle without a valid MoT on the same date.

The court was told that the defendant claimed he had been admitted to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton suffering from sickness and was unable to attend the court hearing on Friday (July 24).

The magistrates agreed to adjourn the case until August 7 when they ordered that Geurreiro must attend to enter his pleas and must bring medical evidence for his absence.

In the meantime his unconditional bail was extended.