Drinking at a wake in Truro and then driving to his home in Falmouth cost a 67-year-old man his licence for three years at Truro’s magistrates’ court.

Michael Tuffery was found apparently drunk at his home in Hillside Road, after police officers followed a trail of oil from where his vehicle had flattened a bollard in Bickland Water Road.

Tuffery pleaded guilty to drink driving in Falmouth on November 13 when he tested at 101 milligrams of alcohol in blood, 21 points over the limit.

Alison May, for the CPS, said the police had been alerted by a member of the public to Tuffery’s driving of a Ford Transit van and then found the damaged bollard, which led them to him.

At his home, Tuffery told them he had had a glass of wine a couple of hours before in Truro, at a wake. He had a previous conviction for a similar offence in 2004.

Elliott Moore, his solicitor, said he had arranged for a lift home from the wake, but that person had left without him and so he drove himself.

Tuffery was fined £120 and 105 costs and surcharge.