A motorist is today banned from the road after admitting getting behind the wheel while over the drink-drive limit.

IPSWICH: A motorist is today banned from the road after admitting getting behind the wheel while over the drink-drive limit.

Colin Harper, of Lavenham Road, Ipswich, appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to drink driving.

The court heard that Harper, a 50-year-old chef, was caught by police near Tesco at Martlesham Heath on October 17 last year.

He was found to have 98 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams.

Wayne Abblet, prosecuting, said: “Police officers noticed that the defendant failed to move forward to a give-way sign.

“They stopped him and he provided a positive breath test.”

Harper said: “It's just one of these things. But I accept that I am going to be banned.”

Harper was disqualified from driving for three years, fined �150, ordered to pay �85 costs and a victim surcharge of �15.

The defendant agreed to take a drink-drive awareness course which, if completed, will reduce his ban by six months.

Have you been affected by the consequences of drink-driving? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk