STUPIDITY has left drink driver Simon Hubert barred from using his car today.The 18-year-old pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court in Ipswich, to driving while more than twice over the legal alcohol limit.

STUPIDITY has left drink driver Simon Hubert barred from using his car today.

The 18-year-old pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court in Ipswich, to driving while more than twice over the legal alcohol limit.

Prosecutor Lesla Small told the court police saw Hubert, of Hall Farm Cottages, Norwich Road, Ipswich, leaving The Greyhound pub in Claydon at 12.50am on Saturday.

Officers followed him through the village as he drove home exceeding the speed limit.

He was eventually stopped as he pulled into the drive of the house he shares with his parents.

As they questioned him, police smelt alcohol on Hubert's breath. He was taken to Ipswich police station after a roadside breath test. Further tests at the station confirmed he had 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Representing himself Hubert told magistrates: "It was stupid of me to do it. I didn't mean to do it. It was a very stupid thing to do and I am very sorry."

Chairman of the bench Graham Barnett told the teenager he would be banned from driving for 18 months and would have to pay a £300 fine. He was also ordered to pay £55 costs. Hubert was offered the opportunity to reduce his ban by 25 per cent if he took a driver rehabilitation course which he agreed to.

In a separate hearing a father-of-four from Lawford admitted losing control of his car while nearly three times over the legal drink drive limit.

Peter Barrett, of Wignall Street, Lawford, was charged after his Peugeot 505 careered out of control near Tattingstone just after 7.10pm on Saturday .

Police saw his E reg car traveling in the direction of Brantham on the A137 and began following it.

The court heard when Barrett left Tattingstone he increased his speed to 60mph and began to weave in the road.

The 44-year-old then clipped the grass verge, kicking up dust and ended up straddling the white lines in the centre of the road.

When Barrett got out of his car officers said he was unsteady on his feet and his eyes were glazed.

A breath test later confirmed he had 103mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath.

Barrett pleaded guilty and was given an interim ban. Sentencing was adjourned until October 15 for pre-sentence reports to be made.

Another drink driver Jason Howells, 28, of Lacey Street, Ipswich pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

However he was released on unconditional bail until a date to be fixed for a special reasons hearing after admitting having 41mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. His solicitor Ian Duckworth said Howells drove because he was in fear of his own safety.

Meanwhile Stephen Elliott, 43, of Grange Road, Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire, also pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared before Ipswich magistrates.

The head of training and development for a railway engineering company, was nearly three times over the legal limit when he was stopped by police in Ipswich's Sir Alf Ramsay Way at 11.30pm on September 18.

Elliott, who had a previous conviction for drink driving in the 1970s, had 98mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath when he was tested at Ipswich police station.

Magistrates banned him for 18 months, to be cut by a quarter if he successfully completes a driver rehab course. Elliott was also fined £750 and ordered to pay £55 costs.