FOUR drink-drivers are off the road today after pleading guilty to taking to the wheel after having too much booze.

FOUR drink-drivers are off the road today after pleading guilty to taking to the wheel after having too much booze.

The four men, who are all from Ipswich and appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, are the latest motorists to be named and shamed by The Evening Star's anti drink-drive campaign.

Magistrates heard that Russell Barker, 32, of Hilton Road, Ipswich, had been to a work party at Ipswich Town Football Club on December 12 prior to being pulled over for drink driving.

He had taken a taxi home but, due to family issues, got into his car parked on the drive and a short while later decided to go for a drive.

While driving he clipped a kerb on Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, and collided with a traffic bollard, Stephen Colman, prosecuting, said.

A test recorded 79 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Sandra Dyer, mitigating, said Barker was facing a number of issues at home.

“For some reason he went for a drive and it was a very icy night,” she said.

“He has expressed remorse. He is very sorry about this incident.”

Barker was disqualified for 20 months, to be reduced by five months on successful completion of a drink-drive rehabilitation course. He was fined £250 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £43.

Terence Shipsey, 64, of St Catherine's Court, Ipswich, also pleaded guilty to drink-driving after getting behind the wheel after drinking at the Three Jolly sailors in Handford Road, on October 23.

Shipsey, who is confined to a wheelchair, was pulled over by police in Handford Road. A blood test recorded 125milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - the legal limit is 80 milligrammes.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and was told to a pay a fine of £150. He was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and a £20 contribution towards court costs.

Scott Davidson, 53, of Bowthorpe Close, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to drink-driving on Anglesea Road, Ipswich, on December 12.

He was banned from driving for 20 months, to be reduced by five months on successful completion of a drink-drive rehabilitation course. He was also fined £500 and told to pay a £15 victim surcharge as well as costs of £43.

Piotr Wojtysiak, 29, of Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to drink driving in Ipswich on November 20.

Sentencing was adjourned until January 5 so an interpreter could be present although he was handed an interim driving disqualification.

Are drink drive laws tough enough? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk