A drink-driving shop owner who was pursued in his Ford Galaxy by police around the outskirts of Ipswich town centre has been disqualified from driving.

Ivo Bonchev, of Hartley Street, Ipswich, admitted drink-driving and failing to stop for police on March 8 when he appeared before the town’s magistrates.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said the 49-year-old’s car was seen by a police officer clipping a kerb in Burlington Road at 3.25am.

The officer put the lights on his police vehicle in a bid to try to get Bonchev to pull over.

Bonchev’s Galaxy drove into Handford Road, Portman Road, Princes Street, Grafton Way, Stoke Street, Austin Street, Wherstead Road, Vaughan Street, Little’s Crescent, and Hartley Street.

At one stage a second police joined the first one in an attempt to try to stop Bonchev’s car.

The Ford Galaxy eventually came to a halt in Kenyon Street because a third police car, which was already there, was in front of it.

A subsequent blood test showed Bonchev had 119 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mcgs.

Bonchev, who listened to proceedings through a Bulgarian interpreter, apologised for his actions.

The court heard Bonchev owns a Bulgarian food shop.

He said: “My business really depends on driving. I am really sorry.”

Chairman of the Bench Michael Sweeting said: “When you have had so much to drink and you are driving and you fail to see a police car with its lights flashing it just compounds it.”

Bonchev was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

He was also fined £250 for drink-driving and a further £166 for failing to stop when required.

In addition Bonchev was ordered to pay £85 costs and £30 to the victims’ fund.

In a separate hearing a 25-year-old BMW driver from Bury St Edmunds was convicted of drug-driving.

Ryan Grimwood, of Leabrook Close, pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred on March 11 in Beetons Way, Bury St Edmunds.

At the time Grimwood had more than twice the legal limit for a derivative of cannabis in his blood.

Grimwood was banned from the road for 12 months.

He must also pay a total of £355 consisting of a fine, costs and a surcharge.