A drink driver who was more than four times over the limit has been spared an immediate jail spell.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard a member of the public phoned police after spotting Marcus McGuinness getting behind the wheel of a BMW in Trowbridge at around 11pm on August 11.

Suspecting the 27-year-old had been drinking, the witness followed in his car. Prosecutor Kate Prince said McGuinness’s BMW was seen swerving in the road and revving.

Police caught up with him on Sparrow Street, where they saw him on the driver’s side of the vehicle speaking to a woman through the window of the car.

McGuinness appeared to be drunk and he told officers there was a bottle of vodka under the seat.

He was taken to the police station where he was breathalysed. He blew 149 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Peter Richardson, defending, said his client’s relationship had broken down earlier in the year. He had not been able to contact his children. That led to him relapsing into alcohol addiction, although he was now working with charity Turning Point to address his alcoholism.

He had worked as a delivery driver previously and, although not currently working, hoped to return to work in the future.

Mr Richardson acknowledged his client had a criminal record, but had not been in trouble since being convicted in 2014 for wasting police time.

“In many ways it is a real shame that Mr McGuinness finds himself before the court today,” the lawyer said.

Sentencing him to 10 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, chairman of the bench Andrew Brown said: “You’ve pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at what was an exceedingly high limit or an exceedingly high reading. The starting point for us is 12 weeks in custody.”

McGuinness must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days and 60 hours of unpaid work. He was banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.