POLICE called to a play area at 9.30am on a Sunday morning found a drink driver’s car stuck on the grass - and he later gave an alcohol reading almost four times the legal limit.

Kevin Newell had a Irish wolf hound in the car found in Stirling Way housing estate at Sutton - he was on his way to return the pet to his wife, Ely magistrates were told.

Newell, 44, of Hillrow, Haddenham, admitted drink driving on February 20 . He was banned from driving for three years and given a one year supervision order. He must pay �85 costs.

Paul Brown, prosecuting, said: “The car was found on the grass of the children’s playing area; the defendant was with the car.”

Newell gave a breath test reading of 131 mcgs of alcohol in 100 mls of breath, the legal limit is 35 mcgs.

Solicitor Michael Judkins said Newell and his wife had split up three or four months earlier.

“He was driving back from a friend’s house where he had spent the night,” explained Mr Judkins. “He was going home to Haddenham, but was returning the dog to his wife in Sutton. He had missed the turning, and went into Stirling Way to turn round. He used the grass area as a short cut and got stuck.”

Newell was suffering from depression, and was “a fragile individual,” added Mr Judkins.