A DELIVERY man has lost his job with a Suffolk brewery and been banned from the road for 16 months after he admitted drink-driving.

Jonathan Schofield

A DELIVERY man has lost his job with a Suffolk brewery and been banned from the road for 16 months after he admitted drink-driving.

Thomas Hancock, 22, of Covell Close, Bury St Edmunds, was a delivery driver for Greene King when he lost control and crashed his VW van.

Bury Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that police were called to a crash at 7.10pm on Wednesday, October 21.

They found Hancock's van lying on its side in Bury Road, Rougham. No other vehicle was involved.

Hancock was breathalysed and taken into custody after alcohol was smelt on his breath.

He was found to have a reading of 49 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Claire Furlong, mitigating, said Hancock was on his way home from work in “torrential rain” when his vehicle aquaplaned and he lost control.

“He had to resign from his job at Greene King following the accident and has admitted that he was very stupid,” she said.

“His career has been seriously curtailed and he is very aware he has lost a good job.”

Hancock, who pleaded guilty, was disqualified for 16 months, which could be cut to 12 if he completes a rehabilitation course. He was also fined �250, ordered to pay �85 costs and a victim surcharge of �15.

Steve Magnall, Greene King's brewing and distribution director, said: “We have extremely strict policies regarding the consumption of alcohol, believing that our employees should set good examples in the course of their work and beyond.

“Under no circumstances whatsoever would we tolerate breaking the law on drink-driving. Tom is no longer employed by the company.”