AN American serviceman forced a jogger to dive into the ditch when he was drink-driving along the B1040, a court heard. Brandon Cronin, 22, pleaded guilty to the driving under the influence of alcohol at Huntingdon Magistrates Court on Thursday (Decembe

AN American serviceman forced a jogger to dive into the ditch when he was drink-driving along the B1040, a court heard.

Brandon Cronin, 22, pleaded guilty to the driving under the influence of alcohol at Huntingdon Magistrates' Court on Thursday (December 19).

The army serviceman, who lives in Barford Road, St Neots, was driving a Toyota Celica along the road on December 6 near Sawtry.

Marcia Duncan-Brown, prosecuting, said he was "driving erratically" and that a driver behind him "witnessed him force a jogger into the ditch without stopping".

"He was swerving all over the road and into the oncoming carriageway," said Ms Duncan-Brown.

He was stopped by police and found to be over the drink-drive limit.

In mitigation, Cronin said: "I didn't want to hurt anyone. I messed up and I accept the consequences."

Magistrates said it was a "very serious charge" in which an "awfully bad accident could've happened".

Cronin, who is due to stay in the UK until 2011, was banned from driving for two years, with the possibility of reducing that by six months if he completes a drink driving rehabilitation scheme.

He was ordered to pay a fine of £500, a victim surcharge of £15 and court fees of £60.