Driver loses job after drinking

DRINK driver Robert Smith is looking for a new job today after he fought with police officers in a bid to escape arrest.

Smith of Lovetofts Drive, Ipswich, was disqualified from driving for 12 months by Ipswich magistrates after admitting driving with excess alcohol.

He also received a six-month conditional discharge after pleaded guilty to resisting arrest.

Prosecutor Lesla Small told South East Suffolk Magistrates Court the 21-year-old was caught by plain clothes police officers who were on a stake out in an unmarked police car in Station Street, Ipswich.

Ms Small said the officers were observing another car 50 metres further up the road at around 1.50am on November 23 last year, when they heard a loud mechanical sound coming from behind them.

The court heard they turned to see a car driving at speed along Station Street which then pulled in about five metres ahead of them. The car ended up parked at an erratic angle one metre from the kerb.

Ms Small said the engine stalled and a man got out to inspect the vehicle as the officers approached him.

In their statement they said Smith had alcohol on his breath, but was unco-operative and started swearing.

When they tried to detain him he pushed them away and made off up Station Street.

When the plain clothes officers caught up with him, Smith looked as if he was about to assault one of them when the other managed to get him in an armlock.

A tussle ensued as back-up for the policemen was on its way to the scene. Two uniformed officers arrived and help to restrain Smith who was still trying to kick them.

Smith was taken to Ipswich and breath tested. Tests showed he had 51 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.

Diane Infanti, mitigating for Smith, told magistrates that his VW Golf was rendered almost undriveable when he had misjudged the kerb the previous day and damaged a wheel.

Ms Infanti said Smith's mum agreed to make arrangements to have the car collected. However when Smith was out that night in Ipswich his mum rang to say she had been unable to do so.

As he had cds and Playstation games in the car he went to collect them. Worried about where the vehicle was parked he decided to move it nearer to other cars.

Ms Infanti said Smith resisted arrest because Station Street was a scary area and he did not realise the men were police officers. He tried to get away because he was frightened he would be attacked she told magistrates.

The court heard Smith would lose his job as a builder with a Stowmarket firm as a result of his drink driving conviction.

In addition to his ban Smith was fined £100 for the offence.