A drink-driver who crashed his BMW into a wall in Ipswich causing £700 damage before driving off is paying the price.

Lorry driver Andrew McKnight has lost his job, his home, his licence and nearly £1,000 as a result of his actions.

McKnight, who celebrated his 45th birthday on the day he appeared before Ipswich magistrates, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and failure to stop after an accident.

The offences occurred on June 23.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said police were called at 11.30pm after a blue BMW crashed into a wall outside a premises in Norwich Road, before driving away.

The vehicle then activated an Automatic Number Plate Recognition camera in the town centre.

It was traced to an address where McKnight was staying in Ipswich.

The court heard when officers went to the address they noticed fresh front end damage to the vehicle.

McKnight and another male were at the property and had been drinking.

When McKnight was at the police investigation centre he admitted to driving the BMW.

Mrs Harper said the damage to the wall was valued at £700.

McKnight told officers he had gone to The Inkerman pub and thought he would risk driving home after leaving.

He said he missed the turned to Kitchener Road, slammed on his brakes to turn, but then his foot slipped on to the accelerator causing him to drive into the brick wall.

A breath test showed he had 61 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Jeremy Kendall, representing McKnight, said his client was an HGV driver who used his vehicle as his home because he commutes between Kent and Ipswich.

Although the father-of-two gave his address as no fixed abode, he gave a care of address as Redhill Close, Ipswich.

Mr Kendall said his McKnight would lose his job and home as a result of his conviction.

McKnight had driven to The Inkerman intending to meet a friend and only have one drink.

However, another friend arrived and Mr Kendall said: “One thing led to another.”

The solicitor added: “Unfortunately he made a catastrophic error of judgment.

“It was a combination of circumstances and a number of if onlys.”

McKnight was banned from driving for 17 months and must pay a total of £907 in fines and costs.