A new dad caught drink-driving over Christmas said the birth of his baby had made him "all excited" and he had gone out to celebrate.

Magistrates' Court heard Gernell Darrell was on a rare night out after becoming a father and was not only celebrating the birth, but the festive season and his "birthday month".

Darrell, 30, of Warwick, was stopped driving his car in Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, at 1.15 a.m. on December 28.

Crown counsel Larissa Burgess said: "He was seen to be very unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred."

After being cautioned, he asked officers: "Why are you treating me like this?"

A breath test at Hamilton Police Station showed he was more than twice over the limit, with 194 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit being 80.

Darrell pleaded guilty yesterday.

He told the court: "It was party season. I have a brand new baby, I was all excited. It was also my birthday month.

"I usually don't go out. I know it was wrong, it was stupid."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined him $1,000 and banned him from driving for a year. He also handed Darrell ten demerit points.