A drink-driving teacher who called police after crashing his Mercedes into a ditch has been banned from driving for 16 months.

Andrew Williams, of Estuary Road, Shotley Gate, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich to driving with excess alcohol.

The 48-year-old committed the offence on February 6 in The Street, Shotley.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said it was around 8.50pm near a school in Shotley when Williams’ Mercedes E300 went off the road and into a ditch, colliding with a fence and a hedge.

When police arrived Williams was given a roadside breath test which indicated a positive reading.

A further breath test at a police investigation centre showed he had 56 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.

Michael Stephenson, representing Williams, said: “This is unfortunate to say the least.

“It’s a bad decision taking in a moment of stress.

“As he says if he could rewind the clock he would.”

The court was told there had already been consequences for Williams, who lives with his partner.

He had been working as a supply teacher, but has had to stop teaching now due to his offence.

Mr Stephenson said his client had two glasses of wine with his supper at around 9pm.

He felt he and his partner were going to have an argument so left the house and drove off to get out of the situation.

Magistrates heard Williams phoned police after the crash.

His car was also vandalised after being left in the ditch overnight and subsequently had to be scrapped.

In addition to Williams’ ban, he was also fined £160 and must pay costs of £85, as well as £30 to the victims’ fund.

In a separate hearing Matthew Dawkins, of Blyford Way, Felixstowe, was banned for 12 months for drink-driving.

The 46-year-old admitted the offence, which occurred in Blyford Way on February 5 when he was driving a Vauxhall Corsa.

Dawkins had 50 mcgs of alcohol in 100 mls of breath.

Dawkins, who must also pay a total of £745, said: “I would like to offer the court my apologies and tell you how silly I feel being brought up in front of you.

“I’m old enough to know better.”