A FELIXSTOWE teenager was today starting a year-long driving ban after pleading guilty to drink driving at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.Tom Ford, of Springfield Avenue, pleaded guilty to three additional charges of taking a motor vehicle without authority, using a motor car without insurance and driving a car without a license.

A FELIXSTOWE teenager was today starting a year-long driving ban after pleading guilty to drink driving at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

Tom Ford, of Springfield Avenue, pleaded guilty to three additional charges of taking a motor vehicle without authority, using a motor car without insurance and driving a car without a license.

Andrea Reynolds, prosecuting, told the court that Ford had taken the keys of the car without the owner's permission and embarked on a late night drive around Trimley St Martin on August 21.

She said that the police had stopped Ford after he had driven erratically without using headlights and had mounted a curb.

A breath test revealed a level of 65 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – almost twice the legal limit of 35mcg.

Charles Riddleston, defending, said Ford was a man of good character who had shown remorse since the incident.

Both solicitors quoted Ford who had said after the incident that he "just wanted to drive a sports car for fun" and accepted that his "desperation to drive has put him further down", meaning that he would now have to wait before owning a license.

As well as a twelve month driving ban, Ford was given a 120 hour community punishment order and must pay £55 costs. His license was also endorsed.