A MOTORIST who was two-and-a-half times the legal drink drive limit is today beginning a three-year driving ban.Harold Spink, of Felixstowe, was seen driving erratically by police officers at about 2.

A MOTORIST who was two-and-a-half times the legal drink drive limit is today beginning a three-year driving ban.

Harold Spink, of Felixstowe, was seen driving erratically by police officers at about 2.30am on December 4.

The 44-year-old mounted the kerb in Manning Road, Felixstowe and gave a roadside reading of 89 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Magistrates in Ipswich were told it was second time Spink has been stopped for the offence. On the first occasion, in November 2001, he was given an 18-month ban.

Sentencing Spink, district judge David Cooper described his driving as "atrocious" but gave him credit for entering a guilty plea in relation to the incident.

Spink, who also admitted driving without insurance, was banned from the roads for three years and given a £1,000 fine. His license was endorsed and he was also ordered to pay £45 costs.

The court was told Spink, who is originally from Far Cotton, in Northamptonshire, is currently staying at a guest house in Buregate Road, Felixstowe.

Spink, a merchandiser, is working on a contract to change over a superstore in the town from Safeway to Morrisons branding.

Mitigating, Charles Riddleston said Spink had "put his hands up" to a "plain stupid" mistake.

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