SUFFOLK: Two drink drivers were today among the first batch to be named and shamed in The Evening Star’s annual campaign.

A lorry driver is facing losing his livelihood after downing cans of booze in his cab before he was due to make a delivery.

And another driver, who was carrying passengers, also admitted drink driving and was banned from the roads at court.

The Star’s campaign, launched on December 1, pledges to name and shame those caught driving after drinking over the festive period.

The police has also launched a campaign to crackdown on the irresponsible motorists during December.

Phillip Bone was nearly three times the drink-drive limit when he was arrested at the Port of Felixstowe on November 23.

The 45-year-old from Devon is now awaiting his fate after pleading guilty to drink-driving at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Prosecutor Wayne Ablett said that Bone mistakenly thought he could drink at the wheel in the port because the road system there was not a public highway.

Bone, who was spotted drinking by the port police, had consumed 100 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Mr Ablett said: “He parked his lorry in a queue and while he waited to unload his vehicle he had about four or five cans of lager.

“He had driven to Felixstowe from West Yorkshire to collect some containers.

“ He was then going to go on to Hinckley in Leicestershire.He admits he has been stupid.”

Bone will re-appear at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

Also appearing before the court on drink-drive charges was Deepal Pathirana of Redwald Road, Rendlesham near Woodbridge.

Pathirana, 42, was stopped on the A12 near Woodbridge on November 24 with three passengers in his car.

Pathirana had consumed 54 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath. He was disqualified from driving for three years and fined �100.

He was also ordered to pay �50 costs and a �15 victim surcharge.

n Have you been affected by drink-driving? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or alternatively you can send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk