A DRINK driver – who didn't even have a licence – crashed a car after picking up his girlfriend from an Ipswich nightclub.Michael Nicholas, of London Road, Ipswich, drove a Mazda to Kartouche to pick up his partner.

By Matt Eley

A DRINK driver – who didn't even have a licence – crashed a car after picking up his girlfriend from an Ipswich nightclub.

Michael Nicholas, of London Road, Ipswich, drove a Mazda to Kartouche to pick up his partner.

However he lost control of the vehicle on Burrell Road and crashed into a wall.

The driver suffered head injuries and had to be kept in hospital overnight following the crash. The two passengers in the car, Nicholas's girlfriend and his cousin, also suffered minor injuries.

At South East Suffolk Magistrates Court yesterday the 20-year-old pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and driving without a licence or insurance.

The accident happened at about midnight on September 19.

Gareth Davies, prosecuting, told the court that a blood sample indicated Nichols was over the limit.

He measured 113 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood – the legal limit is 80mgs.

Mr Davies said: "He admitted he had driven the vehicle and he admitted he had consumed alcohol."

Ian Persaud, in mitigation, said the car was travelling between ten and 25 miles per hour when it crashed into the wall.

Magistrates fined Nicholas £150 for driving with excess alcohol, £150 for driving with no insurance and ordered that he pay £55 towards prosecution costs.

There was no separate penalty for driving without a licence.

Nicholas was also banned from driving for 16 months, however he was told if he completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course he could apply for his provisional licence after a year.