A motorist caught swerving around the A30 at 25mph was found to be three times over the drink drive limit.

Aaron Morton, 26, from Torquay, was seen driving erratically on the M5 in the early hours of the morning before heading on to the Okehampton-bound A30.

He admitted drink driving when he appeared before magistrates in Exeter after spending a night in the cells.

Magistrates said he had come very close to going straight to jail.

But they decided to suspend the sentence and give him 200 hours of unpaid work instead.

Prosecutor Lyndsey Baker said the offence happened in the early hours of October 2.

Morton was spotted by police at 12.45am driving a Mitsubishi on the M5 and then the A30.

“His speed was as low as 25mph and he was swerving on to the hard shoulder and back into lanes one and two,” said Ms Baker.

The defendant was the only person in the car and clearly drunk. He blew a positive test of 111mg in 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Morton, of Torridge Road, also admitted driving without a licence and insurance.

The court was told he had a previous conviction for drink driving.

James Rickard, defending, said his client was a father and worked hard in his job as a groundworker.

Magistrates told Morton the offence was serious enough to send him to jail but decided to suspend the eight-week sentence.

“Your previous history is very poor and you now have a suspended sentence hanging over you,” they told him.

Morton was also told to pay £200 in costs and surcharges. He was banned from driving for 40 months.