TWO drink-drivers who crashed their cars in separate incidents are banned from the road today.

Justin Potts was disqualified from driving for the second time, despite trying to hide from police when they arrived at his home in King’s Way, Ipswich.

The 30-year-old was banned for 20 months by South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court after he pleaded guilty to being nearly twice the drink-drive limit.

Prosecutor Lesla Small said police were told of a collision at 10.30pm on November 17 in Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.

A dog walker reported a Ford Focus had crashed, and the driver had got out and left the scene.

When officers arrived, they found empty cans of Stella Artois lager in the footwell of the vehicle, which was traced to Potts’s home address.

After going to his home they found him hiding behind a door.

He told them the car had skidded off the road. A preliminary breath test proved positive, although Potts initially denied he had consumed alcohol that day.

When he was taken into custody a further test showed he had 69 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

The court heard Potts was previously convicted of drink-driving on January 24, 2002.

In addition to being banned Potts was given a �300 fine and ordered to pay �85 costs, as well as being told to pay a �30 government surcharge.

The next case involved Jason Southey, of Burnt House Lane, Kirton, near Felixstowe, who also admitted drink-driving while nearly twice the legal alcohol limit.

The court was told the police were called after a witness heard a screeching of tyres followed by a bang at 4.20am on November 18.

Southey’s Vauxhall Signum ended up in a field in School Lane, Martlesham.

Police arrived to find two back seat passengers and 19-year-old Southey in the driver’s seat.

A breath test showed the teenager had 65 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Southey told the court: “It was a stupid mistake.”

He was disqualified from driving for 16 months, fined �270, and ordered to pay �85 costs, as well as paying a �27 government surcharge.

Has your life been affected by a drink-driver? E-mail starletters@archant.co.uk, or alternatively you can write to Star Letters, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.