PLUMBER Simon Wood denied being drunk after he was seen swerving and breaking all over the road.

After struggling to get out of his car in the city centre he told police: "I know my rights, I used to be a police officer."

But a judge at Manchester magistrate's court heard that Wood, 37, a former special constable, was over two and a half times the limit.

Wood, of Bloomsbury Lane, Timperley, pleaded guilty to drunken driving and was given a two year ban with £60 costs and 60 hours unpaid work.

District judge Wendy Lloyd told him: "This is the kind of thing that worries the public driving with this alcohol level."

Robert Bimpson, defending, said Wood had committed the offence against a background of difficulties involving his ex-wife.

"Just before Christmas she changed her mind about going back to him and he went to see a friend and tell him what happened", added Mr Bimpson.