A CHRISTMAS reveller is today banned from driving for a year after he was stopped on his way to buy a late night snack. Benjamin Glymin, of Murray Road, Ipswich, had exchanged secret Santa presents with work colleagues before enjoying a night out in Great Yarmouth dog track on Friday, December 15.

A CHRISTMAS reveller is today banned from driving for a year after he was stopped on his way to buy a late night snack.

Benjamin Glymin, of Murray Road, Ipswich, had exchanged secret Santa presents with work colleagues before enjoying a night out in Great Yarmouth dog track on Friday, December 15.

Appearing at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court Glymin, 28, pleaded guilty to drink driving and breaching a conditional discharge imposed for a previous conviction of assault.

Prosecution solicitor Lesla Small said Glymin was stopped on London Road, Ipswich, due to excess speed. A breath test was conducted and Glymin provided a reading of 43 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Glymin, who was represented himself, told the court he was surprised to be arrested, adding he had hoped for a negative result.

He added: “I hadn't had any alcohol since leaving Great Yarmouth. I had had a nice evening. It was a shame I spoiled it.”

The court heard father-of-three Glymin had enjoyed three beers earlier in the evening and decided in the early hours of December 16 to drive to Tesco at Copdock to buy some food.

District judge David Cooper fined Glymin £325 and banned him from driving for one year to be reduced by three months on completion of a drink drive rehabilitation course.

His licence was also endorsed. Glymin was fined a further £100 for the breach of the conditional discharge and ordered to pay £43 costs.

N What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk