AN IPSWICH car driver had been drinking before he crashed into another vehicle then left the scene.Andrew Scarlett, 39, admitted boozing before driving and failing to stop after the accident in Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich, involving a Peugeot 306 and Ford Sierra Sapphire car on the evening of July 6.

AN IPSWICH car driver had been drinking before he crashed into another vehicle then left the scene.

Andrew Scarlett, 39, admitted boozing before driving and failing to stop after the accident in Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich, involving a Peugeot 306 and Ford Sierra Sapphire car on the evening of July 6.

Lesla Small, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, said Scarlett, who was driving the Ford, "crossed the path of an oncoming car" before crashing.

He left before officers arrived but was traced to his home address in St John's Road, not far from the accident spot.

In police interview Scarlett admitted driving the car. "He said he had drunk two cans of Strongbow Cider after the accident."

A breath test revealed 112 mcg in 100 ml breath – over three times the legal drink drive limit.

His reading was sent for analysis. The court heard he would have been 74 mcg in breath before he drunk the two cans, which would have still put him over the limit.

When he was interviewed by police Scarlett explained he left the accident to get help with his car.

He admitted driving without insurance as he was trying to swap his old insurance from his old car to his new car.

Neil Saunders, mitigating, said: "No matter how much he had [to drink] after the accident he was over [the drink driving limit] before. You may feel possibly 74 mcg is the more secure reading."

He added Scarlett was arrested straight away and was fully co-operative with police.

Bench chairwoman Jane Fiske ordered Scarlett to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community for drink driving.

He was also banned from driving for two years with the option of doing a drink drivers rehabilitation course. If this is completed successfully it would reduce his ban by six months.

Scarlett was sentenced to do 100 hours unpaid work to run concurrently for failing to stop.

He was also ordered to pay a £150 fine for not having insurance and £55 towards prosecution costs.