A drink-driving surveyor’s world has come “crashing down” after hitting his neighbour’s car and driving off following the early morning collision.

Ipswich magistrates heard Lee Davies, of Brooks Hall Road, Ipswich, is now likely to lose his job as a result of driving with excess alcohol.

The 27-year-old was disqualified from driving for 18 months after pleading guilty to drink-driving in his white VW Sirocco, and failing to stop after an accident.

At the time of the crash Davies was more than twice the legal alcohol limit.

Prosecutor Emma Howson said the incident occurred shortly after 3.30am on December 6.

One of Davies’ neighbours heard a loud crash and the sound of a car alarm outside his house.

He looked out to see a white VW Scirocco driving off towards Norwich Road.

The neighbour got into his car intending to find the other vehicle, when he saw the VW drive slowly past him from the direction of Bramford Road.

He took the registration number and called the police.

The court heard a man then entered Brooks Hall Road on foot and walked past the front of the victim’s house. A friend of the victim recognised Davies as living in Brooks Hall Road and being the owner of a white VW Scirocco.

As the victim went to drive off towards Norwich Road he saw Davies walking towards him.

Davies stopped by the victim’s car and picked up a white wing mirror casing before going into his house four doors down from the victim’s.

The man’s car had a large scratch and scuffs down one side and the wing mirror was hanging off, magistrates heard.

The court was told when police went to Davies’ home he was dressed only in his boxer shorts, seemed to be drunk and had a cut and grazes to his wrist.

His VW was subsequently found in Tanners View around 500 metres away.

A subsequent breath test showed Davies had 74 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Dermott Thomas, mitigating, said his client had walked home after a night out with friends. Davies then decided to offer a friend a lift home.

Mr Thomas added: “He feels his whole world is crashing down over this incident. He sees his job going and the future he has built for himself crumbling.”

In addition to his ban Davies must pay fines and costs totalling £1,150.