A MAN who drank vodka and then drove two young children around Ipswich has been banned from driving today.

A MAN who drank vodka and then drove two young children around Ipswich has been banned from driving today.

Neil Stannard, of Bramble Road, Purdis Farm, failed a breath test when he was stopped by police in Civic Drive on July 20.

Lesla Small, prosecuting Stannard at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, said: “At about 11.45pm his black BMW came to the attention of police due to the speed it was travelling.

“When stopped he had two young children in the back aged six and three.”

Police breathalysed the 20-year-old and found he had 60micrograms of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

He was taken to Ipswich police station and officers made arrangements to take the children home.

Stannard, who works as a roofer, admitted drink driving but claimed he had only consumed two vodkas.

Nigel Inniss, mitigating for Stannard, said: “He was at his girlfriend's place and he says the three-year-old became upset.

“Usually they take him out for a drive when he is upset but his (Stannard's) girlfriend hadn't come home.

“He was driving around to calm the three-year-old down.

“He had had two vodkas and hadn't had anything to eat. There was about one hour between drinking and the driving on an empty stomach.”

District Judge David Cooper said the fact that Stannard had children in the car was “an aggravating feature”.

He fined him £500 and ordered him to pay £34 in prosecution costs.

Judge Cooper said: “Normally with a reading of 60mcg, which is not a low reading, I would disqualify you for 15 to 18 months but because of your early guilty plea it will be 12 months.

“If you take part in a rehabilitation course that will be reduced to nine months.”

Weblink: www.suffolk.police.uk