An Ipswich drink-driver who was nearly three times the limit when he crashed into a telegraph pole after a night out has lost his licence.

Richard Gibson, of Belvedere Road, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich to driving while above the alcohol limit. The offence occurred on March 12.

A breath test showed the 27-year-old had 103 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mgs.

Prosecutor Wayne Ablett told the court police received a 999 call at 1.40am from a member of the public.

A Vauxhall Combo van had crashed into a telegraph pole, brought the cables down, and had left the pole at an angle.

Gibson was in the driver’s seat when police arrived.

Mr Ablett said the self-employed carpenter told police: “I’m not going to lie. I’ve had a drink.

“I have been a bit of a t***.”

The court was told until the night of the offence Gibson had been of good character and had no previous convictions.

Dave Allan, representing Gibson, told magistrates: “I think the defence position is being ‘a bit of a t*** is probably a bit of an understatement.”

The matter was adjourned for a short while for a pre-sentence report to be compiled by a probation officer.

When it returned to court the probation officer said Gibson had previously been in two Ipswich pubs and had left his vehicle at one of them.

He had said he intended to get a taxi.

Gibson could not remember getting back into his vehicle and only became aware of what happened due to the shock of the crash.

It was also said he was aware of the dangers of drink-driving as he had previously had a friend die in a drink-drive related accident.

Magistrates heard Gibson considered himself a binge drinker and the offence had been a wake-up call for him.

He is also likely to lose his job as a result of his conviction and mandatory ban.

Magistrates sentenced Gibson to a 12-month community order.

A condition of the order is that he must undertake 120 hours’ unpaid work.

In addition he was disqualified from driving for 24 months.

Finally he was told he must pay £85 court costs and £85 to the victims’ fund.