AN Ipswich judge said: "It's the season to be disqualified" as a series ofdrink drivers stood before him.Steven Barwick, of Marlow Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court to driving with excess alcohol.

AN Ipswich judge said: "It's the season to be disqualified" as a series ofdrink drivers stood before him.

Steven Barwick, of Marlow Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court to driving with excess alcohol. The 27-year-old had 56 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when police stopped him on December 17, the legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol.

The Ipswich carpenter told District Judge David Cooper he was now unemployed but he needed to drive to carry his carpentry tools. Judge Cooper said: "You are going to suffer quite a lot because you won't be able to work".

Barwick was fined £250, ordered to pay £34 towards court costs and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Eric Turner, of Burwash Houses, Witnesham, pleaded guilty to being more than three times over the limit when police stopped him.

The 57-year-old was pulled over near the Barley Mow Public House during Suffolk Police's Christmas drink drive campaign on December 18.

Judge Cooper said the breathaliser's reading was "disgracefully high". He added: "I should be thinking of custody."

A pre-sentence report was ordered and Turner was released from court on unconditional bail until January 19 when he is due to be sentenced. He was disqualified from driving in the interim.

Judge Cooper said: "I do have to warn you of the likelihood of a custodial sentence. This was massively over the limit and a clear signal has to be given especially at this time of year."

He added: "It is the season to be disqualified."

Mandrea Hurd, 24, of Bittern Close, Ipswich, pleaded to guilty to having 58 micrograms of alcohol in breath. Police notice Hurd speed into Charles Street car park and stopped his vehicle on December 19.

Hurd told the judge "I'm very sorry".

He was fined £350, ordered to pay £34 costs, disqualified for three years and his license was endorsed.

William Gowland, 39, of Parklands, Ufford was told to do 50 hours unpaid work after he pleaded guilty for having 74 micrograms of alcohol in breath on April 8, this year. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.