Shane Boyes drove at twice the speed limit under the influence of alcohol

A DRUNKEN motorist who put the lives of other road users at risk when he drove in Ipswich town centre at twice the speed limit and jumped a set of red traffic lights has been locked up for eight months.

Jailing Shane Boyes and banning him from driving for three years Mr Justice Saunders said he had no alternative but to send him to prison for his “extremely bad” driving.

“You drove at speeds of double the speed limit, you were out of control when drunk and you went over at least one traffic light on red.

“You put other people’s lives at risk and the courts can’t wait until you kill someone and have to take action now,” he said.

Boyes, 27, of Hossack Road, Ipswich, admitted driving while unfit through drink, possession of cannabis and dangerous driving.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, told the court Boyes was seen by police driving a Vauxhall Vectra on Chevallier Street, Ipswich at around 5.30am on May 15.

The officers’ attention was drawn after they saw Boyes appearing to move sideways in the car as it negotiated a series of roundabouts.

They followed the car as it drove on a number of roads at 60mph in 30mph limits.

“The car was seen to drive up fast behind vehicles in front and brake at the last minute,” said Mr Jackson.

The car had also veered over white lines into the opposite carriageway, swerved to avoid street furniture and driven over a red traffic light on to Star Lane. Eventually Boyes came to a halt and was seen to stagger when he got out of the car, said Mr Jackson.

He later told police he had been at a friend’s house in Meredith Road, Ipswich and had ten to 12 shots of aclohol and smoked some cannabis joints before leaving at 5am because of an argument.

A breath test showed that Boyes had 81 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Mr Jackson said that following the incident a policeman said it was “extremely lucky no-one was hurt or killed” as a result of Boyes’ poor driving.

Roger Thomson for Boyes said his client had been unaware he was being followed by the police as there were no blue flashing lights or siren.

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