A SALISBURY man drove the wrong way down a cordoned off slip road and nearly collided with a tree, a court has heard.

Gareth Jones, of St Gregory's Avenue, admitted drink driving and driving without third party insurance at Waitrose Car Park in Salisbury when he appeared at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday January 18.

The court heard at 1.15 in the afternoon on December 31 last year, the 52-year-old was witnessed by a shopper who had become concerned about the manner of his driving an reported the incident to the police.

He was seen driving down a cordoned off slip road in a red Honda but came to an “abrupt halt” due to barriers blocking it.

A witness statement then described the driver trying to reverse back down the slip road and that the vehicle was “constantly” mounting the curb.

The defendant also reversed into a hedge and almost collided with a tree as well as stalling the vehicle several times.

Prosecuting, David Fosler, said the witness was concerned about the condition of the driver and had no idea why they were driving like this.

The vehicle went back into the car park and police attended the scene.

Mr Fosler said Jones, who has no previous convictions, was compliant with police at the roadside.

The proportion of alcohol in his breath was 129 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath, which exceeded the limit.

The defendant was given an interim disqualification and the case was adjourned for a hearing on Tuesday February 1.

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date, as well as signing up for one of our newsletters.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.