A MARTLESHAM man is disqualified from driving today after he was seen swigging cider while behind the wheel of his car.

A MARTLESHAM man is disqualified from driving today after he was seen swigging cider while behind the wheel of his car.

Graham Booth, of Heathfield Mews, Martlesham Heath, pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court.

Sandra Dyer, prosecuting, told the court police were called by a member of the public who reported seeing the 54-year-old in a Ford Galaxy drinking from a can of cider on Sunday, June 7.

Officers saw the car being driven by the IT contractor and stopped the vehicle at 8.10pm in Heathfield, Martlesham Heath.

Booth was given a roadside breath test which indicated a positive reading. He was then taken to a police station where he was given two further breath tests.

The lowest of the two readings recorded 80 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

A letter submitted to the court by Booth's solicitor stated the father-of-four was undergoing a very worrying time after work had dried up. He had previously held a clean driving licence for 37 years, before his drink-driving arrest.

Judge David Cooper disqualified Booth from driving for 20 months. He was also fined �550 and ordered to pay �65 costs. In addition he was told to pay a �15 surcharge.