A SOCIAL Services manager who drove when more than twice the legal limit for alcohol has been banned from the roads for 18-months.Mary Orton, of Mill Terrace, Mendlesham, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with excess alcohol at a court hearing in Ipswich.

A SOCIAL Services manager who drove when more than twice the legal limit for alcohol has been banned from the roads for 18-months.

Mary Orton, of Mill Terrace, Mendlesham, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with excess alcohol at a court hearing in Ipswich.

Gareth Davies, prosecuting, told the court that the 50-year-old mother of two was spotted by police on Saturday night at about 11.20pm.

He said: "The defendant was driving on the A12 northbound at Woodbridge. Two police officers followed and saw her vehicle swerve across the white line in the centre of the carriageway."

Police stopped Orton and detected the smell of alcohol on her breath. She admitted she had been drinking.

She was taken to the police station where a breath test revealed she measured 73 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Orton, representing herself, said: "I want to say I am sorry it's something that is completely out of character. I am not normally such a bad judge of a situation."

She added that her work as a manager for Social Services, in Suffolk, would be affected by a driving disqualification.

Magistrates in Ipswich banned Orton from driving for 18 months. The sentence will be reduced by 25 per cent if she completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

She was also fined £400 and ordered to pay £55 towards the prosecution costs.