A drink-driver poleaxed a lamppost near his home on Christmas Day before driving off while more than twice the legal alcohol limit, a court heard.

Ipswich magistrates were told that after police went to Guy Haighton’s address in Runnacles Way, Felixstowe, he told an officer: “I shouldn’t have driven. I’m a b***** idiot.”

The 51-year-old was disqualified from driving for 18 months after pleading guilty to drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Haighton must also pay a total of £700 in fines, £85 costs, and £45 to the victims’ fund.

At the time of the offences he had 82 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said the incident occurred at 10.40pm.

A witness was walking home along Grange Farm Drive in Felixstowe when he noticed a silver VW Golf driving along the centre of the road.

As it turned into Runnacles Way it misjudged the corner and collided with a lamppost which fell down, the court heard.

However, the vehicle drove off.

The witness phoned police when he got home.

Mrs Harper said another witness rang the police when he saw there had been damage to the lamppost.

When officers arrived at the scene they found a broken piece of number place on the ground.

They then went to Haighton’s home as police discovered he was the registered owner of the car.

When the arrived the vehicle’s alarm was going off, the number plate was damaged along with the front grille.

Mrs Harper said when he answered the door Haighton said “I know what you are here for.”

After he was breathalysed he made the comment about being an idiot.

In a separate hearing a motorist who got drunk after he was told his wife had left him has also been banned for being more than three times the drink-drive limit.

Costel Radu, of Fulham Way, Ipswich, admitted the driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before Ipswich magistrates.

The court was told the 35-year-old scrap metal dealer had committed the offence while driving a Vauxhall Astra in Sirdar Road on Christmas Day.

A breath test showed he had 116mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath.

Magistrates heard Radu - a Romanian-national - did not usually drink, but had been upset after being told by his daughter that his wife had left him.

The father-of two has been in the UK for two years and has always been in employment, the court was told.

He works to provide for his family and has not seen his children since last July.

Radu was given a community order with 70 hours’ unpaid work, and banned from driving for 22 months.

He must also pay £40 costs and £60 to the victims’ fund.