AN ALCOHOLIC who smashed into his neighbour's van after boozing has been spared a jail sentence.Philip Butterworth was more than three times over the drink drive limit when he hit the vehicle parked near bottom of his drive in Diamond Close, Ipswich.

AN ALCOHOLIC who smashed into his neighbour's van after boozing has been spared a jail sentence.

Philip Butterworth was more than three times over the drink drive limit when he hit the vehicle parked near bottom of his drive in Diamond Close, Ipswich.

A breath test revealed he had 106 mcg alcohol in 100 ml of breath, which he admitted. The legal limit is 35 mcg.

Bench chairwoman Vicky Sears at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, told Butterworth, 42: "With a reading of this level you were on the edge of going to prison.

"Whilst you have an addiction and some sort of tolerance most people can't stand up at that level."

Godfried Duah, prosecuting, said neighbours called police after the accident with their van in Diamond Close, Ipswich.

Mark Holt, mitigating, said: "Mr Butterworth was having problems with the motor vehicle. It was stalling. He revved the vehicle quite hard.

"It shot forward and collided with the van. It was nothing to do with the drinking. It was his foot slipping from the clutch.

"He has a high tolerance with drinking so he didn't believe he was over the drink drive limit," said Mr Holt.

He said Butterworth, who was in the process of going through a divorce, had problems with alcohol over the last 20 years which he was addressing through rehabilitation.

Bench chairwoman Ms Sears banned Butterworth from driving for three years which could be reduced by seven months if he successfully completes a drivers' rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £500 and asked to pay £55 prosecution costs.