The landlord of the White Horse Inn at Kilgetty was praised by a judge last week for protecting his customers from a drunken, dangerous driver.

Adam James Lewis, aged 23, appeared at Swansea crown court to be sentenced after he admitted dangerous driving while three-and-a-half times over the legal drink limit.

Dyfed Thomas, prosecuting, said Lewis had been banned from the White Horse, but by New Year's Eve the ban had been lifted.

By 1.30 am, of then New Year's Day, landlord Anthony Phillips told him he had had enough to drink, after he had seen Lewis moving from pints to shorts and "pushing some boys."

Lewis, who is now of no fixed address, was living at the time 100 metres from the pub in Station Road.

Lewis walked home, but instead of getting into bed got into his car and "revved up" outside the White Horse.

Mr. Thomas said Mr. Phillips kept an eye on him as he raced backwards and forwards, and at one stage pushed drinkers back into the pub as he saw the car approaching yet again.

Lewis eventually failed to take a left-hand turn and crashed into the wall of a house, occupied by pensioners said to be "frightened out of their living daylights."

Lewis was detained at the scene by customers of the White Horse, until police arrived and arrested him.

After his arrest, said Mr. Thomas, it was "neutral" to say he was drunken and unco-operative.

Mr. Thomas said it could not be alleged that Lewis had deliberately driven at customers. But one of them, Charlotte Jones, later told police that it had been "fortunate" that Mr. Phillips had pushed them back inside.

Interviewed by police, Lewis said he should have gone to bed but instead "decided to go for a drive."

He said he had drunk "nine or 10" pints, but did not mention the shorts.

Kate Williams, the barrister representing Lewis, said she could not dispute anything the prosecution said because Lewis could not remember what had happened.

Judge Paul Thomas told Lewis "You got extremely drunk."

He determined that Lewis had used the car "not as a weapon, but as something to intimidate" those standing outside the White Horse.

Lewis was jailed for six months, and banned from driving for three years.