Ipswich drink-driver set to lose home after ‘foolish error’
Drink-driver in court - Credit: PA
A drink-driver and his mother are likely to lose the Ipswich home he worked so hard for after being disqualified from driving.
Aurelijus Simonis, of Derby Close, was nearly three times the legal alcohol limit when he was stopped in Derby Road, Ipswich.
The 24-year-old admitted drink-driving when he appeared before the town’s magistrates.
Prosecutor Simon Bravery said a police officer saw Simonis driving a black Ford Focus at 11.15pm on October 17.
The car was travelling very slowly and almost hit a kerb and another vehicle.
When the police officer stopped the Focus he could smell alcohol on Simonis.
A subsequent breath test showed he had 101 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.
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Dino Barricella, representing the Lithuanian-national, said his client came to the UK in 2009 and had studied to obtain qualifications in IT.
Simonis had worked continually since his arrival.
Mr Barricella told the court: “He is clearly an intelligent man who made a foolish error on the day in question.
“He has worked and studied hard. He obtained a number of jobs through various agencies. He’s very proud of the fact he has now obtained full-time employment, and works for a company in Hadleigh and has done for the last 18 months.”
Magistrates heard because of the mandatory drink-driving ban Simonis was due to receive he would have difficulty getting to Hadleigh and would have to finish work 30 minutes earlier than normal to catch the last bus home.
Even if Simonis keeps his job he will lose his home as he will not be able to work the overtime he needs to keep up the payments for his mortgage.
Mr Barricella said: “He’s recently purchased a property where he lives with his mother.
“He’s proud of doing that and looking after his mum. On his basic salary he can’t afford the mortgage.
“Because of a foolish error he’s effectively going to lose his employment and certainly lose his accommodation.
Magistrates banned Simonis from driving for 16 months and ordered him to pay a total of £1,005 in costs and a fine.
