The oldest son of the ’F***ing Fulfords’ reality TV family has had a drink driving conviction upheld after losing an appeal at Exeter Crown Court.

A judge threw out Francis Fulford’s claim that he was not over the limit when he overturned his father’s Ford Focus car on the way back from the pub after drinking five pints.

Fulford, who is known as Arthur, claimed he was only over the limit because he swigged a half bottle of red wine after being given a lift back from the scene of the crash in a country lane.

He said the wine which he drank after returning to the family’s stately home at Great Fulford, near Dunsford, was what tipped him over the limit.

Fulford was one of the stars of a series of fly-on-the-wall documentaries about the extraordinary lifestyle of the aristocratic family, who live in a crumbling mansion at the heart of a 9,000 acre estate.

The entire family, including Arthur, were characterised by their constant foul language, which led to one series being entitled ’The F***ing Fulfords".

Fulford, aged 24, of Crookham Road, London, was convicted of drink driving by Exeter Magistrates but appealed his conviction to the Crown Court.

His case was thrown out by Judge Graham Cottle, sitting with two lay magistrates, who ordered him to pay an additional £620 costs.

The original driving ban of 12 months was upheld, along with £1,345 in fines and costs.

Miss Anita Noerr, prosecuting, said police went to Great Fulford around midnight on September 24 last year after finding the car overturned in the road.

There was a note inside which provided a contact number and said:"Driver okay, no injuries, apologies for car in road."

Fulford gave a breath reading of 43 microgrammes, above the limit of 35, but claimed he had drunk at least half a bottle of wine after getting to Great Fulford.

He gave a police interview in which he said he had played cricket at Dunsford before going to the Royal Oak pub between around 6 pm and 11.30 pm.

He admitted drinking about five pints but claimed he had sobered up by the time he left to drive home and that the accident, in which he hit a hedge on a narrow lane and tipped over, was nothing to do with his drinking.

He told the judge he had been capable of driving when he left the pub and the only reason he failed the breath test was the wine which he drank after the accident.

Reports by experts on behalf of the prosecution and defence reached different conclusions about the likely level of alcohol in his body at the time of the accident.