A SOLDIER ended up in a hedge in a residential street when he tried to get a takeaway from McDonald's, York magistrates heard.

Signaller Charles Thomas McGee, 21, had spent August 11 with family and had been drinking in four or five pubs up to 5pm, said Nicki Forster, prosecuting.

At 10.30pm he got into his car to drive to a McDonald's to get himself some food.

Instead, he crashed into a hedge in a street in Acaster Malbis and later told police he had taken a wrong turning.

A breath test gave a reading of 44 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

McGee, of Imphal Barracks, Fulford Road, York, pleaded guilty to drink driving. He was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £276 and ordered to pay a £110 statutory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

For him, Jackie East said he would face an Army disciplinary hearing because of his conviction and the driving ban would delay his chance to take military driving training.

She handed in an Army reference for McGee that she said was “very positive”.

McGee had believed he was under the drink drive limit when he got into his car, the court heard. It had been an error of judgement that was out of character. He had no previous convictions.

He will shortly be posted to Germany.