A 31-year-old seen speeding on his moped was banned from driving for 20 months after admitting drink driving.

David Walker, of Chertsey Court, Mortlake, was arrested on September 20 in Lonsdale Road, Barnes, after police officers saw him travelling at high speeds, not wearing a crash helmet on his Piaggio Vespa moped.

As officers spoke to Walker, they could smell alcohol on his breath. He provided a road-side breath test which proved positive and was arrested.

At the police station he provided a lower reading of 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Walker was bailed to appear at court on September 29, but failed to do so.

He was arrested on warrant on Sunday and detained until he appeared at Richmond Magistrates' Court on Monday morning.

In his defence, duty solicitor Mr Gardiner said Walker, a chef by trade, had been to a wine-tasting session and had not realised how much he had drunk.

Apologising on behalf of his client, Mr Gardiner added that a close friend of Walker's had died in a drink driving accident and Walker was ashamed of what he had done.

The magistrates ordered Walker to pay £695 of outstanding fines for earlier offences, and £445 for the most recent crimes.

He was considered suitable for a drink-drive rehabilitation programme which, if completed, could reduce his sentence by five months.

l THE case of a 22-year-old charged with three offences of deception was adjourned at Richmond Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Ross Kenny Keppel, of Langridge Mews, Hampton, did not enter a plea to the offences alleged to have taken place on March 3 this year.

Keppel also faces sentencing for driving offences which were proved in his absence in April.

The case was adjourned until October 11 for legal representation to be made.

Keppel was released on bail and told he must live and sleep at his home address and not approach any member of staff at any of the stores where the offences are alleged to have taken place.