Andre Vrona, of Wiveliscombe, was spotted on the A358 near Taunton. Pictures: Avon & Somerset Police

‘Couple of beers after work’ left man four times over drink-drive limit near Taunton

Paul JonesSeptember 1, 20250 Comment0

WIVELISCOMBE man Andre Vrona has been banned from driving after “a couple of beers after work” left him four times the legal alcohol limit.

Vrona was pulled over by police on the A358 at Henlade, near Taunton, after a member of the public reported a vehicle they suspected was regularly being used by a drink-driver.

The 43-year-old, of Plain Pond, Wiveliscombe, was found to be driving a Volkswagen Golf nearly four times over the legal limit.

He was pulled over at the Asda car park in Taunton after automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology alerted officers in a passing police car to the reported vehicle at around 4.30pm on July 7.

The officer approached the vehicle and Vrona, who was found to be the driver and sole occupant of the car, as well as being the registered keeper, was then instructed to take a seat in the back of the patrol car.

He gave a reading of 144 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath in a roadside breath test – which is around four-times the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

Andre Vrona, of Wiveliscombe, was spotted on the A358 near Taunton. Pictures: Avon & Somerset PoliceVrona, who was wearing a reflective vest at the time of his arrest, cooperated with the officer who explained why he had been pulled over, before Vrona admitted he “had a couple of beers” after work.

During the stop, the police officer is shocked to see such a high reading, even questioning whether the result was correct.

However, a drugs wipe proved negative, and Vrona was arrested and taken to Express Park Police Centre, in Bridgwater.

He was sentenced at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on August 28, when he was disqualified from driving for 36 months (starting from the interim disqualification date of July 21), which could be reduced if he satisfactorily completes a driving course, as well as being ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, to comply with the conditions of a rehabilitation activity requirement, and pay £85 in costs and a £114 surcharge.