A SERIAL drink-driver drove at more than four times the limit after consoling the mother of a friend who was stabbed to death.

Today, biomedical scientist Matthew Bone, of Grange Farm Avenue, Felixstowe, is serving an eight-week jail sentence after being caught drunk behind the wheel for a third time.

The 28-year-old alcoholic pleaded guilty to driving when above the legal alcohol limit, when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

Bone’s Ford Mondeo was seen by police with its lights on full beam in Runnacles Way, Felixstowe, at around 1.25am on January 21.

Prosecutor Wayne Ablett said officers approached the vehicle after it pulled into a car park.

The court heard Bone staggered as he left the vehicle and refused to provide a roadside breath specimen.

However, a subsequent breath test showed he had 145 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.

The court heard Bone had previously been banned from the road for drink-driving for 32 months in June 2004. He was also disqualified for the same offence in 2008.

Mark Holt, mitigating, said his client had lost a close friend in December, who was stabbed to death. Two people are currently on police bail on suspicion of murder in relation to the incident.

On the night he was arrested Bone received a call from the deceased’s mother who was upset.

He went round to the woman’s house to console her and they ended up drinking alcohol.

Although the victim’s name was not mentioned in court it is understood to be Darryl Bundy, who died in Selvale Way, Felixstowe, on December 16.

Mr Holt said Bone had referred himself to specialists for help with his alcohol problem.

The court was told Bone’s employers were likely to hold his job in Cambridgeshire open for him should he be jailed.

However, Mr Holt asked District Judge David Cooper to consider a suspended prison sentence.

Although the district judge expressed sympathy for Bone’s alcoholism he said: “I can’t always let my heart rule my head. I would be failing in my public duty if I didn’t impose a custodial sentence.

“I reach this conclusion reluctantly. (But) this was an immensely high reading.”

In addition to his jail term, Bone was also disqualified from driving for five years.