Drink-Driver: My ban is so unfair!

AN IPSWICH father has today spoken about the injustice of being banned from the roads for a year after he was caught drink driving.

Darren Marsh, 24, admitted driving along Nacton Road in Ipswich while under the influence of alcohol and without insurance and was given a fine and a disqualification from driving for 12 months by magistrates.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard that police officers spotted Marsh's vehicle parked in the car park with its head lights on, next to Orwell Country Park, on June 20.

Prosecuting Emma Lister told the court that Marsh, of Sandy Hill Lane, then drove off at speed and police followed him. After conducting some checks, they discovered he had no insurance, so stopped him and proceeded to breathalysed him when they smelt alcohol.

A reading found that he had 50 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg in 100ml of breath.

The court heard how Marsh has three convictions for two offences, two of which are for being drunk and disorderly.

Magistrates banned him from driving for a year but promised to reduce this by three months if he undertakes a rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £200 for the excess alcohol offence, £100 for having no insurance, £60 in prosecution costs and £15 victim surcharge.

Speaking after the case, Marsh said: “You see people on television just getting fines for being six times over the limit. I was just a bit over the limit but get banned for 12 months. It doesn't seem fair.”

Marsh recently received a three-year football banning order after he was abusive to club stewards during a Blue's derby match against Norwich on April 13. The ban prohibits him from attending any matches in the UK.

Have you been a victim of a drink driver and want to tell us your experiences? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk