ipswich: A father-of-three has been banned from the roads for three years after committing his third alcohol-related offence, a court heard.

Peter Richardson was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit, a breath test revealed, after police stopped him in Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, on December 15.

The test showed he had 74 microgrammes in 100ml of breath - the legal limit is 35mcgs.

The 28-year-old was banned from driving for 12 months in 2009 for drink-driving and given 10 penalty points on his licence in November for being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol.

Richardson, of Fronks Road, Harwich, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence during a hearing at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

District Judge David Cooper handed Richardson a three-year driving ban, fines of �350 and ordered him to pay �85 costs and a �15 government surcharge.

Defending himself, Richardson said: “I’ve been going through a little bit of a bad time because my godfather passed away but that’s by-the-by.

“It’s all my own fault.”

Wayne Ablett, prosecuting, said officers pulled Richardson over after he narrowly missed hitting a traffic bollard.

Mr Ablett said Richardson was stopped by police driving a manual car when he only has an automatic vehicle licence.

Another motorist has been banned from driving for a year after being caught under the influence.

Lionel Dunkley, 30, was pulled over by officers after it was noted “he seemed to swerve, drive at low speeds and brake suddenly” in Spindler Close, Kesgrave, on October 30.

He admitted he had been drinking and a test revealed he had 83 milligrams of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal limit is 80 milligrams.

Defending himself, Dunkley, of Spindler Close, said: “On that evening I was doing care work and I had got a bit emotional and attached to the people I was looking after.

“I had a drink and went out that evening and shouldn’t have taken my car.

“I regret these actions.”

Judge Cooper said: “It’s all rather disastrous really and very unfortunate.”

He handed Dunkley a year-long driving ban, imposed a �100 fine and ordered him to pay an �85 costs and �15 government surcharge.

n Has your life been affected by drink-driving? E-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or alternatively you can write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.