A VOLATILE cocktail of alcohol and medication left an Ipswich driver unconscious in his car.Daniel Purcell, of Darter Close, told magistrates he thought drink driving was disgusting, but admitted he had got behind the wheel while drunk after a row with his former girlfriend.

A VOLATILE cocktail of alcohol and medication left an Ipswich driver unconscious in his car.

Daniel Purcell, of Darter Close, told magistrates he thought drink driving was disgusting, but admitted he had got behind the wheel while drunk after a row with his former girlfriend.

The 28-year-old was banned from the road after admitting drink driving after he fell asleep in his car at Tesco's, Martlesham Heath.

Prosecutor Nigel Gilbert told South East Suffolk Magistrates Court Purcell was spotted by Tesco staff asleep in his car at the Martlesham Heath store.

He had driven his hired black Seat car on to the forecourt of the store's petrol station early on December 7.

Magistrates heard Purcell appeared to have passed out in the car and was left asleep at the petrol station for 2 hours.

Eventually workers went over to his car, woke him up and then helped him push the vehicle to the store's main car park.

Purcell then passed out again. Three hours later, about 5am, police were called as he was still unconscious.

It took officers three attempts to eventually rouse him after which he gave a positive breath test.

Mr Gilbert said Purcell was then taken to a police station where a further breath test showed he had 109 milligrams of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80.

In mitigation Purcell, who is unemployed, told magistrates he was appalled at the thought of people drink driving.

He said: "I have never driven drunk in my life. I had split up with my girlfriend and partner of six years. She left me.

"I was in a nightclub where she was and had an argument. I was suffering from depression.

"Stupidly I did drive. I drove to Tesco at Martlesham Heath and I did pass out.

"Since then I have been going to Alcoholics Anonymous because I thing drink driving is disgusting."

Banning Purcell from driving for 12 months, chairman of the bench Anne Parry told him she and her fellow magistrates had taken his remorseinto account.

But she also said: "We feel this was a serious offence in that you passed out and your ability to drive was seriously impaired."

After the case Purcell said: "It was a moment of stupidity. I only had a couple of pints."

Purcell was also fined £200 and ordered to pay £56 costs.