A DRINK-driver who holds only a provisional licence said he was "set up" after he was caught behind the wheel by police.

Mark Dobbins, aged 53, was caught driving a Honda CR-V outside a pub by an unmarked police car in Berry Lane, Upton Warren, at 9.40pm on May 13.

Defending himself, Dobbins, of Upton Snodsbury in Worcester, said that he had been drinking, there was a police office at the entrance to the pub, and that he believed he had been set up.

The court heard that Dobbins had a reading of 53 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, said: "He admitted straight away he was only a provisional licence holder.

"He provided a roadside breath test.

"He was arrested and taken to Worcester Police Station. He provided two samples of breath - the lowest of these two was 53 micrograms."

He had been previously convicted of a similar offence in 2005.

Dobbins, who works as a loader, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving without insurance or a licence at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 31.

He was given credit for his early guilty plea and disqualified from driving for 16 months.

Dobbins was fined £340, a further £150 for having no insurance and £100 for having no licence. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £35.

He was offered a Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course, which if completed to a satisfactory standard, will reduce his overall ban by up to a quarter.