By arresting David Feeley for drink driving, a Falmouth police officer had saved his life, Truro magistrates were told this week.

Feeley had equipped himself with a hosepipe and was on his way to a local car park to commit suicide when his bad driving caught the attention of the officer.

“He is very grateful to the policeman for stopping him and arresting him," said Feeley's solicitor, Paul Simons. "If he had not been stopped he is quite confident he would not be here today. It was a Godsend to him.”

The officer had seen Feeley, 36, from Hillhead, Penryn, driving in an erratic way in North Parade, Falmouth, narrowly missing parked vehicles, and with a piece of plastic hanging down from the back of the vehicle, scraping along the ground. When he stopped him, he found he was drunk.

Feeley, who pleaded guilty to drink driving on July 24 and to breaching a suspended sentence, registered 87mcg, more than twice the limit for alcohol in breath. He had a previous drink driving conviction and a number of offences of being drunk and disorderly.

Mr Simons said his client had been having a bad day. He was trying to resume contact with his two children, and with his wife, from whom he was prohibited contracting, by a court order.

“There had been setbacks with it, and he thought enough was enough, bought a length of hosepipe, drank some alcohol, and was on his way to The Quarry car park to end it all," he said.

After the death of his son Feeley had gone downhill and hit bottom, leading to his offending. He had at one time been a star pupil for Addaction, coming off the drink, but then fell off the wagon, leading to offences and a restraining order for his wife. He was now doing well again, with probation, had got himself accommodation and was hoping to start work.

Feeley was fined £120 with £115 costs and charges, banned from driving for 36 months, and given a curfew seven nights a week for six weeks.