Garage forecourt tycoon Balraj Tandon, 59
A respected entrepreneur awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List apologised humbly to the court after being found guilty of being more than twice the drink-drive limit when he drove to buy more alcohol last month.
Garage forecourt tycoon Balraj Tandon, 59, mistakenly triggered his own burglar alarm when leaving in his Mini Cooper, prompting officers to attend his £1.8m house in Croydon.
When they arrived - shortly after he returned from the off licence - he was so drunk he fell backwards onto the boot of his car while stumbling towards the house.
A court packed with supporters of the charity trustee heard he felt deeply ashamed of the incident, which happened after he spent January 30 drinking alone after hearing his sister's throat cancer had taken a turn for the worse.
He was fined £200, with £85 costs, plus a £30 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for 12 months rather than the 22 months recommended under the guidelines his his high blood alcohol level.
Balraj previously said he was 'absolutely overjoyed' upon receiving his MBE award for services to business and the community was announced.
He arrived in the UK as a Ugandan refugee in 1975 and said he was particularly thrilled because the award 'came from the Queen,' adding: 'We are royalists and we love her so much.'
The father-of-four admits he burst into tears on hearing of the honour.
'Clearly this offence is completely out of character,' announced District Judge Julie Cooper at Croydon Magistrates Court. 'I have to take into account your exceptional good character.
Mr Tandon's home in Croydon and the Mini Cooper from which police saw him emerge, stumbling and drunk
'Throughout your entire life you have exhibited a drive to help others and these actions are very much out of character, so I am stepping away from the guidelines.'
Tandon, of Croydon, co-owner of the nationwide 'Park & Shop' franchise, pleaded
