A drink-driver began doing press-ups in a desperate attempt to bring his alcohol reading down when breath-tested, a court heard.

Gregory Mullin-Henderson, of Jovian Way, Ipswich, was seen travelling at speed on the wrong side of the road by police while on the way to help a friend.

Mullin-Henderson pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared before South East Magistrates’ Court.

The 24-year-old had been out celebrating a promotion on the night he was caught.

A breath-test showed Mullin-Henderson had 47 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said at 4.40am on January 16 police were in Norwich Road when they noticed a black BMW pull out of a side road and continue at speed on the wrong side of the road.

This caused on-coming traffic to pull into a bus lane to avoid a collision.

Police then stopped the BMW.

The court heard Mullin-Henderson told officers he had just been promoted at work. He then tried to do push-ups to get his reading down after taking a roadside breath test.

Mullin-Henderson, representing himself, told magistrates he had been out the previous evening celebrating his promotion before going to bed.

He said: “A friend lost his wallet and I had seven missed calls (on my phone) when I woke up.

“I had been asleep that night. I’m now going to lose my job as well.

“It was completely out of character. As far as the speed goes I was tired. I hand just been woken up by a friend who needed help.

“It was the wrong decision.”

Magistrates disqualified Mullin-Henderson from driving for 14 months and fined him £200.

He must also pay £85 costs and £20 to the victims’ fund.